Panaji, Dec 15:  The Government of Goa, led by the Minister for Information Technology, Electronics & Communications, Shri Rohan Khaunte, held strategic discussions with a delegation from Starlink to explore high-impact digital connectivity initiatives aimed at strengthening Goa’s technology ecosystem and expanding rural and remote connectivity.

Two meetings were convened on December 12, 2025, focusing on potential collaboration with Starlink in alignment with the State’s vision of advancing digital inclusion, fostering innovation, and building resilient digital infrastructure across both urban and underserved regions.

The first meeting, held at the Mantralaya in Porvorim, was attended by Chief Minister of Goa, Dr. Pramod Sawant. The Starlink delegation included Ms. Lauren Dreyer, Vice President – Starlink Business Operations, Global Access & Operations; Shri Prabhakar Jayakumar, Head of Starlink India; and Shri Manoj Ladwa, Government Affairs Strategist and Chairman, India Global Forum.

Speaking during the meeting, the Chief Minister highlighted Goa’s rapid progress on its digital transformation roadmap and the State’s continued focus on strengthening digital services and public delivery systems. He noted that Starlink’s interest could enable Goa to leverage high-speed, low-latency satellite broadband to accelerate infrastructure development, enhance government service delivery, and support key sectors such as tourism, rural connectivity, education, industry, fisheries, and other communication-dependent services.

A second meeting was held at Taj Cidade de Goa, Dona Paula, attended by Shri Rohan Khaunte, Minister for Information Technology, Electronics & Communications, Tourism and Printing & Stationery, along with Dr. V. Candavelou, IAS, Chief Secretary of Goa; Shri Kabir Shirgaonkar, Director, Department of Information Technology, Electronics & Communication; Mr. Pravimal Abhishek, IAS, Secretary, Science & Technology and Managing Director, Goa Industrial Development Corporation; the Director of Transport; and other senior officials. The Starlink delegation was led by Ms. Lauren Dreyer, Vice President – Global Access & Operations, along with her team.

Highlighting Goa’s forward-looking approach, Shri Rohan Khaunte stated that the State is rapidly emerging as a preferred destination for global technology leaders. He noted that Goa continues to witness strong growth in emerging technologies, with global companies increasingly recognising the State as an ideal hub for innovation, creation, and scaling of technology-driven solutions.

The discussions explored how Starlink’s global satellite network could complement Goa’s development priorities, including strengthening rural and shadow-area connectivity, improving industrial and electronic manufacturing clusters with high-speed data coverage, enhancing last-mile connectivity under the Har Ghar Fibre programme, modernising maritime and fisheries operations through real-time communication capabilities, and advancing Goa’s Digital Nomad vision by enabling seamless connectivity.

Additional opportunities discussed included supporting CCTV surveillance at beaches, AV/AR-based visitor guides, connectivity for schools in low-coverage regions under the CARES initiative, and strengthening digital services across the tourism ecosystem, including homestays, beach security, and maritime experiences.

Through these strategic discussions, the Government of Goa continues to advance a comprehensive connectivity roadmap aimed at strengthening rural networks, enhancing maritime communication systems, and expanding last-mile digital access under Har Ghar Fibre, ensuring seamless and inclusive digital connectivity across the State.