New Delhi: The government on October 8 rejected allegations that India’s regulatory system is being used to delay or block Starlink’s satellite broadband services, saying that all licensed satellite communication companies are required to follow the same approval process and meet identical security requirements.
The Ministry of Communications described claims that India’s regulatory framework is unfair or discriminatory as “baseless and misconceived”.
The clarification came after SpaceX CEO Elon Musk alleged on X that Starlink was being prevented from operating in India by “certain oligarchs” seeking to protect a “monopolistic chokehold on the Indian people”. Musk also described the alleged regulatory hurdles as “a crime against the people of India”.
Government Says All Operators Follow the Same Process
The controversy followed a social media post calling for faster approvals and spectrum allocation for Starlink in India. The post highlighted the company’s potential to improve broadband connectivity in rural and difficult-to-reach areas.
In its response, the Ministry of Communications said licences have been issued to three Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) service providers operating through non-geostationary satellite constellations.
According to the ministry, each licensed operator must fulfil specified security conditions before progressing to the next stage of the regulatory process.
“Security assessment as part of this process is currently under way in respect of all the three licensees,” the ministry said.
Spectrum Assignment Comes After Security Clearance
The ministry further explained that a licensed satellite operator can proceed with the process of obtaining spectrum assignment only after completing the required security assessment.
It said all three licensed entities are currently at broadly the same stage of the regulatory process.
“At present, all the three entities are at broadly the same regulatory stage,” the ministry said, rejecting claims that India’s satellite communication framework is being applied selectively or unfairly.
Government Responds to Musk’s Allegations
The statement represents the government’s direct response to Musk’s comments and highlights New Delhi’s position on the approval process for satellite communication services.
According to the government, progress for licensed operators depends on meeting regulatory and security requirements rather than receiving preferential treatment or being affected by competitive considerations.
The government maintains that the same regulatory framework and security assessment process apply to all three licensed GMPCS operators currently progressing through the system.