UIDAI Partners with Starlink to Enable Aadhaar e-KYC for Satellite Internet

Aadhaar, regarded as one of the world’s most trusted and scalable digital identity systems, has already transformed governance and service delivery across India.

In a landmark development for India’s digital connectivity landscape, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has onboarded Starlink Satellite Communication Pvt Ltd as a user agency for Aadhaar-based authentication and e-KYC services. The move is expected to revolutionize customer verification in the satellite internet sector by making the process seamless, paperless, and fully compliant with KYC regulations.

Aadhaar and Starlink: A Powerful Synergy

Aadhaar, regarded as one of the world’s most trusted and scalable digital identity systems, has already transformed governance and service delivery across India. By integrating Aadhaar e-KYC into its onboarding framework, Starlink will be able to provide high-speed satellite internet services to households, businesses, and institutions with fast and secure digital verification.

This collaboration brings together India’s digital public infrastructure and global satellite technology. It ensures that the onboarding of Starlink customers in India will be:

• Quick and hassle-free through digital authentication.

• Secure and transparent, minimizing risks of identity fraud.

• Compliant with KYC and regulatory standards, ensuring user protection.

UIDAI clarified that Aadhaar authentication will continue to be voluntary, in line with the existing legal framework.

Formal Onboarding Ceremony

The appointment of Starlink as a Sub-Authentication User Agency (Sub-AUA) and Sub-eKYC User Agency (Sub-KUA) was formalized in the presence of:

• Shri Bhuvnesh Kumar, CEO, UIDAI

• Shri Manish Bhardwaj, Deputy Director General, UIDAI

• Parnil Urdhwareshe, Director, Starlink India

Speaking at the event, officials highlighted the role of Aadhaar in enabling innovative service delivery models and emphasized the significance of secure identity verification for emerging technologies like satellite internet connectivity.

Aadhaar: Backbone of India’s Digital Infrastructure

Since its inception, Aadhaar has been at the core of India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), driving initiatives that improve both ease of living and ease of doing business. Over the years, Aadhaar authentication has become essential for a range of services—from banking and telecom to welfare schemes and fintech innovation.

The face authentication feature of Aadhaar, in particular, is gaining traction due to its ease of use and convenience for Aadhaar number holders. By bringing this system into satellite internet services, UIDAI has demonstrated the adaptability and scalability of Aadhaar across sectors.

Strengthening Connectivity and Transparency

The integration of Aadhaar with Starlink services offers multiple advantages:

• Accelerated Digital Inclusion: By simplifying customer onboarding, Starlink can rapidly expand high-speed internet access to underserved and remote regions of India, bridging the digital divide.

• Enhanced Security: Aadhaar-based authentication ensures accountability and transparency, reducing risks of misuse.

• Global Demonstration of India’s DPI: The adoption of Aadhaar by a global satellite internet provider underlines India’s leadership in building trusted, large-scale digital systems.

Looking Ahead

The partnership between UIDAI and Starlink is not just a procedural milestone but also a strategic signal of how public digital infrastructure can empower private innovation and global technology adoption.

With India’s growing emphasis on digital transformation and connectivity, Aadhaar’s role as a trusted digital identity backbone will continue to expand. Its integration with satellite-based internet services promises to deliver a new wave of inclusive, secure, and technology-driven service delivery across the country.