New Delhi: Indian security agencies have withheld the final clearances needed for Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service to begin operations in India, according to a Bloomberg News report.
While SpaceX’s unit obtained a Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) licence nearly a year ago, that licence was only one step in a wider approval process that still requires security sign-off.
Officials say the hold-up intensified after reports showed Starlink terminals were in use during the Middle East conflict, prompting New Delhi to question whether it could effectively regulate a US-based satellite communications network during international crises.
Final Clearance Still Pending
Although Starlink got a GMPCS licence that lets it make commercial deals and prepare to operate, but security clearances from the Ministry of Home Affairs are still pending. Those approvals are required before the service can launch in India, Bloomberg reported.
Indian authorities have become wary of how to exercise control over remote, foreign-operated satellite networks, particularly when geopolitical tensions rise. People briefed on the matter told Bloomberg that the government is concerned about relying on overseas-controlled communications infrastructure in uncertain international conditions.
Security Review & Follow-Ups
According to the report, Starlink conducted security demonstrations last year that were evaluated by telecom regulators and a dedicated security panel. Even after those demonstrations, officials asked for additional compliance measures and further clarification about how the service would meet India’s security requirements given SpaceX’s global footprint and US ownership.
“The concern reflects a broader unease about relying on overseas-controlled communications infrastructure amid rising geopolitical uncertainty,” Bloomberg News reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
Starlink’s engagement with the government has continued. It submitted affidavits saying it will follow local data-storage rules and has set up about 10 gateways and a hub in Mumbai. Senior SpaceX executives have met government officials and ministers from time to time to resolve outstanding issues.
However, authorities remain cautious and have not granted final approval until security-related questions are fully addressed.
Impact On Spectrum Framework
The delay has also affected a satellite spectrum pricing framework that the sector needs for commercial launches by both Starlink and Indian competitors. Bloomberg said the Department of Telecommunications has completed the pricing framework but has not forwarded it to the Union Cabinet for approval, in part because of the unresolved security considerations.
This impasse curtails Starlink’s expansion plans in a market with significant broadband demand and highlights the geopolitical and regulatory complexities facing satellite internet providers worldwide.
