Archive · 8 Oct 2026
India Says Starlink Faces Same Security Process as Rivals
Elon Musk says unnamed powerful business interests are stopping Starlink from starting internet service in India.
India’s government says that is not true and that the rules apply equally to satellite companies.
It says security checks are under way for three licensed providers: Starlink, Jio Satcom and Eutelsat OneWeb.
Companies need to complete the required checks before moving to the next approval steps.
A government minister said the security clearance issue is with the Ministry of Home Affairs, not one particular company.
Starlink has been waiting about four years to begin service in India.
SpaceX has made agreements with Jio Platforms and Bharti Airtel, but no service covered by those agreements has launched commercially.
Musk also says Starlink’s satellite beams were off over India, while Indian authorities have reported finding Starlink equipment in two operations in 2024.
India rejected Elon Musk’s allegation that unnamed business interests are blocking Starlink to protect their position in the telecom market.
The telecom ministry said security assessments are under way for all three licensed satellite providers and called the framework fair and non-discriminatory.
The three licensees are Starlink, Jio Satcom and Eutelsat OneWeb; commercial service requires security clearance and further spectrum-related approvals.
Minister of State for Communications Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani said the pending security clearance issue was with the Ministry of Home Affairs and was not specific to one company.
Starlink has waited around four years to launch in India; SpaceX has agreements with Jio Platforms and Bharti Airtel, but neither service has launched commercially.
- Who
- Elon Musk and Starlink; India’s telecom ministry and Ministry of Home Affairs; the three licensed providers Starlink, Jio Satcom and Eutelsat OneWeb.
- What
- India rejected Musk’s claim that business interests are blocking Starlink and said all three licensed satellite providers face the same security process.
- When
- Musk made his accusation on Wednesday (7); India responded on Thursday (8). The articles also refer to incidents in late 2024 and agreements made in 2025.
- Where
- India, with the government response reported in New Delhi.
- Why
- Musk alleged that unnamed business interests were protecting their position in India’s telecom market; the government said approvals are pending security assessments and related requirements.
Musk’s allegation
India’s response
Whether Starlink is being blocked
Musk’s allegation
Musk alleged that unnamed oligarchs were blocking Starlink to protect a monopolistic hold on the Indian market.
India’s response
The telecom ministry called claims of unfair or selective treatment baseless and said its framework applies fairly to all providers.
Who faces regulatory delays
Musk’s allegation
Musk’s accusation presents Starlink as being prevented from entering the market.
India’s response
The government said security assessments were under way for all three licensees; Pemmasani said the pending clearance was not specific to one company. Sunil Bharti Mittal also said his own satellite venture was waiting for approvals.
Starlink signals over India
Musk’s allegation
Musk said Starlink’s satellite beams were switched off over India and had never been on there, rejecting claims the service was used by militants in Manipur.
India’s response
Indian authorities reported finding Starlink equipment during operations in late 2024; the articles do not provide a direct government response to Musk’s claim about whether the satellite beams were active.
- Licensed satellite providers
- Starlink, Jio Satcom and Eutelsat OneWeb.
- Regulatory status
- The government said security assessments were under way for all three licensees, which it described as broadly at the same stage.
- Next approval steps
- Providers can proceed to the spectrum-assignment stage after completing the required security process; spectrum-related approvals are also needed before commercial service.
- Starlink wait
- Around four years to begin commercial operations in India.
- SpaceX agreements
- SpaceX signed separate agreements with Jio Platforms and Bharti Airtel to distribute Starlink equipment and services; neither service has launched commercially.
- Starlink infrastructure
- SpaceX vice president Lauren Dreyer said Starlink built 20 gateway sites in India with hundreds of antennas and controls intended to keep Indian user data within the country.
- Reported equipment discoveries
- Authorities said Starlink equipment was found in a drug seizure in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and during an Army search in Manipur in late 2024.
- Market forecast
- Deloitte forecast India’s satellite broadband market could be worth $1.9 billion by 2030.
