India Rejects Musk's Claims as Starlink Awaits Security Clearance
AI-generated image · Bay Street Wire
The Ministry of Communications maintains that SpaceX's satellite service is undergoing standard security assessments alongside other licensed operators.
India has dismissed claims from Elon Musk that Starlink is being unfairly blocked from entering the country's internet market, as TechCrunch first reported. Musk accused unnamed "oligarchs" of maintaining a "monopolistic chokehold" to prevent the launch, describing the situation as a "crime against the people of India."
India’s Ministry of Communications responded by stating its regulatory framework is "fair and non-discriminatory." The ministry clarified that Starlink, along with two other licensed satellite operators, are at "broadly the same regulatory stage." Crucially, the ministry noted that all three companies must complete security assessments before they can be granted spectrum—the radio frequencies required for satellite signals.
SpaceX has been attempting to enter the Indian market since 2021. While the company has partnered with telecom giants Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio and appointed former Payoneer executive Prabhakar Jayakumar to lead India operations in December, it has yet to begin commercial services. TechCrunch reports that Starlink previously had to refund preorders in early 2022 after the Indian government flagged the company for offering services before obtaining necessary licenses.
Despite the friction, India recently sided with Starlink's preference to allocate satellite spectrum administratively rather than through an auction, a move opposed by Reliance Jio. Starlink's vice president of business operations, Lauren Dreyer, recently reiterated the company's commitment to the market at the India Mobile Congress in New Delhi, stating that Starlink has already established over 20 gateway sites and hundreds of antennas in India to meet security and data-sovereignty requirements.