MUMBAI, Nov. 6 -- In a first for any state in the country, the Maharashtra government on Wednesday signed a letter of intent (LOI) with Elon Musk's Starlink Satellite Communications Private Limited (SSCPL) to introduce satellite-based internet services across remote and underserved parts of the state. The rollout will cover government institutions, public infrastructure networks and rural communities, officials said, adding that the collaboration will be subject to all necessary clearances from the Union government. The initiative is aimed particularly at bridging connectivity gaps in areas with difficult terrain and limited telecom coverage. Districts such as Gadchiroli, Nandurbar, where forest settlements, tribal schools and primary health centres struggle with unreliable networks, will be among the first to be brought online. The technology will also support connectivity at disaster control rooms, forest outposts and coastal policing units. The LOI was signed between state Information Technology secretary Virendra Singh and Starlink vice-president Lauren Dreyer in the presence of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. The state is additionally exploring satellite-backed power and communication links for critical infrastructure corridors, including stretches of the Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway....