Govt rejects Elon Musk’s claims of discrimination in India’s satellite communications approval process

The Indian government has rejected Elon Musk’s claims of discrimination in India’s satellite communications approval process, saying that all three licensed operators were undergoing security assessments and were at the same regulatory stage. The statement comes hours after SpaceX owner Elon Musk alleged that “unnamed oligarchs” were blocking Starlink’s entry in India.

The communications ministry on Thursday said operators must demonstrate compliance with security conditions before moving to the next step of seeking spectrum assignment. “The Government has put in place a fair and non-discriminatory authorisation framework for all telecommunication services, including satellite communication services...Security assessment as part of this process is currently under way in respect of all the three licensees…At present, all the three entities are at broadly the same regulatory stage. As such, the suggestion that the framework or its application is unfair or discriminatory is baseless and misconceived,” the Ministry said in a press note on Thursday.

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In a scathing post on X on Wednesday, Musk wrote: “Unfortunately, we are being blocked by certain oligarchs in order to maintain their monopolistic chokehold on the Indian people. You can guess who they are … This is a crime against the people of India!”

OneWeb India Communications, Jio Satellite Communications and Starlink Satellite Communications as the three companies granted unified licences with authorisation for Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite services.

Musk’s comments comes in the wake of remarks made by a senior SpaceX executive that Starlink is ready to launch services once it gets the remaining government approvals. Speaking at the India Mobile Congress (IMC), Lauren Dreyer, SpaceX’s vice president for Starlink business operations, said the company has built 20 gateway sites and hundreds of antennas in India and has invested in infrastructure and adapted its operations to meet Indian security and regulatory requirements, including keeping Indian users’ data within the country.

“We built our Starlink operations specifically for India in recognition of Indian security requirements and other regulations, establishing controls of every layer for India, and keeping Indian user data within India… Starlink had spent five years working with Indian regulators, industry and telecom operators to prepare its services for the market, she said. “We’re standing ready to serve India once India is ready.”

The American satellite internet company has been waiting for a security nod from the government, having already secured a satcom permit and authorisation from space regulator. But it is not only Starlink that is waiting for the final go ahead, the likes of Bharti Group-backed Eutelsat OneWeb as well as Jio Satellite too are waiting for the security nod, meaning none of the companies can start commercial satcom services. Both Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio Satellite too have satcom permit and authorisation from space regulator. In addition to security clearance, the three companies need spectrum for launching services, for which the government is likely to take a call soon on pricing.

Dreyer said Starling's management has been in regular touch with the authorities to sort out any differences.