India rejects Starlink blocking claim

• India said its satellite communications framework is fair and non-discriminatory after Elon Musk alleged that Starlink was being blocked from launching.
• The government said Starlink and two other licensed satellite operators are at broadly the same regulatory stage and still undergoing security assessments.
• Starlink has spent more than five years pursuing an India launch and has already built local infrastructure and partnerships with major telecom operators.

SpaceX’s (NASDAQ:SPCX) Starlink said it remains ready to launch satellite internet service in India, but the government said the company must complete security assessments before it can seek spectrum.

Elon Musk had accused unnamed “oligarchs” of blocking Starlink to protect their market position, but India’s Ministry of Communications said the regulatory framework is fair and applies equally to licensed operators.

The ministry said Starlink and two other licensed satellite operators are all at broadly the same regulatory stage, with security reviews still underway for each company.

Starlink has spent more than five years preparing to enter India and has secured key approvals, partnered with Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, and established more than 20 gateway sites and hundreds of antennas.

SpaceX has positioned Starlink as a complement to India’s terrestrial telecom networks, while the company says it has adapted its operations to local security, data-sovereignty and regulatory requirements.

Starlink first attempted to launch in India in 2021, but the company later refunded preorders after regulators said it had accepted bookings before receiving the required licenses.

India has since chosen administrative allocation for satellite spectrum rather than auctions, a framework that aligns with Starlink’s preferred approach, while the timing of its commercial launch remains unclear.