The government stated that all three licensed satellite communication service providers undergo security assessments and must comply with unified regulatory requirements before obtaining spectrum.
The Union Government rejected accusations of discrimination in satellite communications regulation in India on Thursday. This came a day after billionaire Elon Musk claimed that certain 'oligarchs' were obstructing the launch of his satellite internet company, Starlink, in the country.
The Ministry of Communications issued a statement emphasizing that it has created a fair and non-discriminatory authorization system for all telecommunication services, including satellite communications.
This clarification followed Musk's statement on Wednesday on the social platform X, where he alleged that unnamed business interests were hindering Starlink's entry into the Indian market to protect their existing dominance. In his post, Musk wrote: 'Unfortunately, we are being blocked by certain oligarchs to maintain their monopoly control over the Indian people. You can guess who they are... This is a crime against the people of India!'. However, he did not name any companies or individuals.
In response to these statements, the government reported that the assumptions about the discriminatory nature of its regulatory framework or its implementation are 'unfounded and erroneous.'
How is the launch of Starlink delayed in India?
Starlink has been trying to enter the Indian market since November 2022 but has faced several regulatory hurdles, particularly related to security approval and foreign direct investment. The company received the GMPCS license from the Department of Telecommunications in June 2025, followed by authorization from the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) in July 2025. Nevertheless, the company is still awaiting remaining permits necessary to commence commercial operations.
The government made this clarification the day after Starlink announced that it had already invested in infrastructure and implemented security control systems specifically designed to comply with Indian regulations.
Speaking at the Indian Mobile Congress on Wednesday, Lauren Dreier, Vice President of Business Operations for Starlink at SpaceX, reported that the company has built 20 gateway sites, including hundreds of antennas in India. She also noted that Starlink has established protective mechanisms ensuring that data of Indian users remains within the country.
Dreier stated: 'We have built our Starlink operations specifically for India, recognizing India's security requirements and other rules, establishing control at every level for India and keeping Indian user data in India.' Furthermore, the company has entered into partnerships with Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio in preparation for market entry. Dreier emphasized that Starlink is ready to begin providing services as soon as the government completes the necessary approval process. She added: 'We are ready to serve India as soon as India is ready.'