UIDAI joins hands with Starlink for Aadhaar-based verification

Elon Musk’s Starlink has partnered with the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to use Aadhaar for verifying its customers.

The IT ministry (MeitY) announced today that Starlink has been designated as a “sub-authentication user agency” (sub-AUA) and “sub-eKYC user agency.”

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A sub-AUA connects through a primary agency to access UIDAI’s database for authentication, while a sub-eKYC agency uses Aadhaar data for online verification.

“Starlink’s onboarding with Aadhaar authentication signifies a powerful synergy: India’s trusted digital identity joining hands with global satellite technology. Aadhaar e-KYC will facilitate the onboarding of users seamlessly, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements while delivering high-speed internet to households, businesses, and institutions…” MeitY said in the statement. 

The ministry clarified that Aadhaar authentication will remain voluntary under existing rules. It added that the tie-up will help Starlink onboard customers quickly, without paperwork, and in compliance with regulations. 

The agreement was signed in New Delhi in the presence of UIDAI CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar and Starlink India director Parnil Urdhwareshe.

The move comes a month after Starlink got final approval from IN-SPACe to start commercial operations in India.

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Still, the company must secure satcom spectrum, build ground infrastructure, and prove through tests that it meets security requirements—though spectrum rules are yet to be finalised.

Earlier this month, MoS for Communications Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar said Starlink had agreed to store its network data and traffic details within India.