The Indian government has rejected Elon Musk’s allegation that “certain oligarchs” are blocking Starlink’s entry into India. The Ministry of Communications said the country’s regulatory framework for satellite communication services is fair and non-discriminatory.
Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, made the claim in a post on X on Wednesday. He alleged that Starlink was being kept from launching its satellite internet service to protect a “monopolistic chokehold” over the market, and called the situation “a crime against the people of India”. He did not name any individuals or companies.
In its response, the ministry said all three licensed satellite communication operators are currently at broadly the same stage of the regulatory process. Licences have been granted to three Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) providers using non-geosynchronous satellite systems. Each must demonstrate compliance with security requirements before moving to the next stage.
The government said a security assessment is under way for all three licensees. Once it is completed for an operator, that entity can seek spectrum assignment. The assessment is meant to ensure the services meet requirements for the safety of users and their data. Starlink holds a GMPCS licence in India but has yet to begin commercial services while it works through the regulatory and security requirements. The government maintained that neither the framework nor its implementation is discriminatory.
