Science & Tech
India says Starlink faces the same approvals
All three operators still await security clearance before commercial service
All three operators still await security clearance before commercial service
Starlink has spent years preparing to offer satellite internet in India and has built 20 . It still cannot start commercial service. The company has a and , but it needs and a final . Every operator must complete these steps before serving customers.
Elon Musk says powerful domestic interests may be blocking Starlink. He has raised concerns that India may be protecting rivals such as Jio and . The government denies this, saying all three licensed operators face the same security checks. Satellite internet could reach remote areas and give people more choices. India says network safety and control of spectrum must come first. The start date remains uncertain.
Starlink’s commercial launch remained dependent on completion of the security assessment, final spectrum assignment and compliance with remaining operating conditions. The dispute therefore remained a test of how India balances and competition with Jio and against and .
The government said India’s satellite communications framework was fair and , calling claims of selective blocking baseless and misconceived. It said security assessments were under way for all three and that the delay was pending with the , not targeted at Starlink.
Elon Musk publicly questioned why Starlink had not yet received permission to launch and suggested that influential were obstructing its entry. He also questioned Mukesh Ambani’s role, but the allegation was not established as fact by the reporting.
Starlink had built 20 in India with hundreds of antennas while awaiting final approvals. The company also established controls intended to keep Indian user data within India, preparations that supported network readiness but did not replace the required or .
The continued security assessments for the licensed operators. The Department of Telecommunications issued , but said final spectrum assignment could follow only after the required security process, leaving all three unable to begin .
India’s approval process advanced for three satellite communications operators, Starlink, Reliance-backed and Bharti-backed . The government later cited the three licences as evidence that the same broad regulatory framework applied to domestic and international competitors.
authorised Starlink on July 8, 2025, for its of 4,408 satellites. The approval was a separate space-sector milestone, not a final launch clearance, since telecom security requirements and spectrum assignment were still outstanding.
The granted Starlink a in June 2025. The licence authorised the company to provide satellite communication services subject to its conditions, but it did not by itself permit immediate commercial operations, because security and spectrum steps remained.
India’s , or GMPCS, framework created the telecom licensing route for satellite operators, including such as Starlink. The framework separates permission to provide a communications service from later and .
Starlink began pursuing permission to offer in India, but faced requirements beyond a normal commercial launch, including a telecom licence, , security review and . The company’s early push highlighted that satellite operators needed approvals from multiple Indian agencies before serving customers.