India Disputes Elon Musk's Allegations of Discrimination Against Starlink
India has refuted Elon Musk’s claim that SpaceX’s satellite internet service, Starlink, is being unfairly blocked from launching in the country. The Ministry of Communications stated its regulatory framework for satellite communications is fair and non-discriminatory, noting that Starlink and two other licensed operators are at a similar stage in the approval process. Starlink has been working to enter India’s market for over five years despite securing key approvals and partnerships with major telecom firms like Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel. The company is preparing local infrastructure but remains without commercial operations due to pending security assessments required before spectrum allocation can proceed. Musk accused unnamed “oligarchs” of blocking Starlink’s launch, calling it a crime against the people of India. Meanwhile, Starlink reiterated its commitment at an industry conference and emphasized alignment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's goal of universal connectivity.
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Topics: India satellite internet SpaceX Starlink telecom regulation