The Indian government has rejected Elon Musk’s claim that Starlink is being blocked in the country, saying satellite communication rules apply equally to all licensed operators.
The Ministry of Communications said on October 8 that suggestions of an unfair or discriminatory regulatory framework for satellite communication services were “baseless and misconceived”. According to the ministry, all licensed satellite communication providers are subject to the same approval process and security requirements.
The statement came after SpaceX CEO Elon Musk alleged on X that “certain oligarchs” in India were preventing Starlink from operating in the country to protect a “monopolistic chokehold” on consumers. Musk described the alleged regulatory hurdles as a “crime against the people of India”.
The government said licences have been granted to three Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) service providers using non-geostationary satellite constellations. The ministry’s statement was aimed at clarifying that satellite communication operators are being assessed under a common regulatory framework.
The dispute follows calls on social media for India to accelerate Starlink’s approvals and spectrum allocation. Supporters of faster approvals have pointed to the potential of satellite broadband to improve connectivity in rural and remote areas where conventional networks can be difficult to deploy.
Starlink, operated by SpaceX, is seeking to establish satellite broadband services in India. The latest government response indicates that regulatory approvals, spectrum-related requirements and security conditions remain central to the company’s progress in the Indian market.
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