Elon Musk’s Starlink has begun security tests in India, marking one of the last steps before the company can launch commercial satellite broadband services in the world’s most populous nation, Bloomberg cited sources familiar with the matter.

These tests are part of India’s security approval process for both foreign and domestic telecom operators.

The SpaceX-owned network still awaits the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s final pricing framework for satellite services. Sources familiar with the matter said that if the regulator issues the guidelines by year-end, Starlink could begin delivering Internet to Indian homes as early as 2026.

India’s satellite communications sector is gaining momentum, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government opening the space economy to private companies.

The initiative aims to encourage satellite providers to bridge connectivity gaps left by conventional fiber and mobile networks.

The SpaceX-owned company is constructing at least 10 satellite gateways across India—over three times the number planned by its main competitors, Space Fiber from Reliance Jio and OneWeb from Eutelsat Communications, according to sources familiar with the plans.

SpaceX and India’s Department of Telecommunications did not respond to requests for comment.

Sources said Mumbai, where SpaceX has completed three ground stations, will act as the company’s India hub, with on-site inspections by officials expected soon.

Earlier this year, Indian regulators approved Starlink’s satellite broadband operations and allocated specific frequency bands, marking the culmination of the US company’s multi-year effort to enter a market with over 900 million internet users.

Starlink’s launch in India would also allow SpaceX to offset its exclusion from China, where the government has restricted foreign telecom operators.