Scindia Responds to Elon Musk’s Claims Over Starlink’s India Launch

Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has responded to allegations by Elon Musk, head of Starlink, that some Indian business interests are obstructing the satellite internet service’s entry into the country. Scindia said India would not allow monopolies in any sector and stressed that every company seeking to operate in the country must comply with the applicable security requirements. He added that the government would follow a uniform regulatory and security framework for all satellite communication (satcom) providers, ensuring that companies are assessed under the same standards before being allowed to launch their services.

Scindia also said the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) were expected to finalise the satellite spectrum pricing framework. Starlink, Jio Satellite and Eutelsat OneWeb have received licences to provide satcom services in India, but they can begin operations only after meeting the prescribed security conditions and other regulatory requirements. Responding to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s criticism of the government’s approach, Scindia questioned the opposition party’s position on the issue and maintained that the government had a clear policy on satellite communications. The final rollout of services will depend on the completion of the remaining regulatory procedures.