Starlink India Launch Faces Fresh Regulatory Dispute After…

India has pushed back against Elon Musk’s accusation that unnamed “oligarchs” are preventing Starlink from launching its satellite internet service in the country.

Musk made the claim on Wednesday, alleging that the individuals were trying to preserve what he described as their “monopolistic chokehold” over India’s connectivity market. He called the alleged obstruction a “crime against the people of India” and argued that Starlink could provide affordable, high-speed internet access to people who currently lack reliable connectivity.

India’s Ministry of Communications rejected the accusation, saying its regulatory framework for satellite communications is “fair and non-discriminatory.” The ministry said Starlink and two other licensed satellite operators are at “broadly the same regulatory stage” and are undergoing required security assessments before they can proceed with spectrum allocation.

Starlink India Launch Remains Stalled After Years Of Regulatory Work

SpaceX has spent more than five years seeking to bring Starlink to India, one of the world’s largest internet markets. Despite obtaining key regulatory approvals and establishing partnerships with major telecommunications companies, the company has yet to begin commercial operations.

Starlink reached distribution agreements with Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel last year, giving the satellite internet service potential access to two of India’s largest telecom networks. SpaceX has also established a local operation, appointing former Payoneer executive Prabhakar Jayakumar to lead its India business in December.

The regulatory process remains a significant step before commercial service can begin. According to India’s Ministry of Communications, Starlink and the other licensed satellite operators must complete security assessments before seeking spectrum, which is required for satellite communications services.

Musk’s comments came just hours after Lauren Dreyer, Starlink’s vice president of business operations, appeared at the India Mobile Congress in New Delhi and reaffirmed the company’s plans for the market.

“We stand ready to serve India,” Dreyer said, adding that Starlink wants to help realize Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s goal of achieving universal connectivity across the country.

Starlink Says India Network Is Ready For Commercial Service

Starlink said it has already established more than 20 gateway sites in India, along with hundreds of antennas. The company says its infrastructure and operations have been adapted to meet India’s regulatory, security, and data-sovereignty requirements.

SpaceX has also presented Starlink as a service that would complement India’s existing terrestrial telecommunications infrastructure rather than replace it.

The company’s efforts to enter the Indian market date back to 2021. However, SpaceX was forced to refund equipment preorders in early 2022 after Indian authorities said Starlink had been “booking/rendering the satellite internet service” without the required licenses.

Starlink has also previously been involved in a dispute with India’s largest telecom operators over how satellite spectrum should be distributed.

SpaceX favored administrative allocation of spectrum, while Reliance Jio argued that satellite spectrum should instead be auctioned. India eventually chose administrative allocation, aligning with Starlink’s preferred approach.

Jio And Airtel Pursue Satellite Internet While Supporting Starlink

India’s satellite broadband market is also becoming increasingly competitive. Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, the country’s two largest telecom operators, are pursuing their own satellite connectivity initiatives while also partnering with Starlink.

Jio is working with satellite operator SES on a satellite broadband service. Airtel, meanwhile, is a major backer of Eutelsat OneWeb, another satellite operator licensed to operate in India.

That creates an unusual competitive landscape in which India’s leading telecom companies are preparing their own satellite offerings while also agreeing to help distribute Starlink.

For now, the timing of Starlink’s commercial launch in India remains uncertain. SpaceX has continued expanding its satellite connectivity operations elsewhere in the region, including the launch of Starlink Mobile in neighboring Bangladesh, where the service connects ordinary mobile phones directly to satellites.