Starlink has said it is ready to begin connecting India with high-speed internet, responding to Reliance Industries’ statement that all satellite communication providers must follow Indian laws and policies before entering the market.
The Elon Musk-led company said in a post on X that it had worked with Indian regulators, industry participants and operators for more than five years. Starlink said it had built dedicated systems, gateways and other infrastructure within the country to serve Indian traffic, adding that the network had received the requisite government approvals.
The response followed a statement from Reliance Industries after Musk accused certain business groups of blocking Starlink’s entry into India. Musk later named Reliance chairman Mukesh Ambani in a series of posts. The Indian government has rejected those allegations.
Reliance said it welcomed competition in satellite communications but maintained that every company, including its own telecom arm Jio, must comply with the country’s laws and policies. The company also said that Jio’s satellite services were awaiting clearances.
“In light of recent remarks about Reliance and the Indian market, we wish to place the facts on record,” Reliance said. It added that India’s investment environment was based on openness to both domestic and international businesses, but that this openness rested on the rule of law and a common process for all applicants.
The government’s position has focused on two pending conditions: the framework for assigning satellite spectrum and security requirements. Union communications minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said spectrum would be assigned after the government finalised the revenue-sharing framework and companies met the required security conditions.
Starlink, Reliance Jio and Eutelsat OneWeb have received licences to provide satellite communication services in India, according to the report. Amazon’s Project Kuiper is also seeking a licence.
Satellite communication is expected to extend internet access to remote areas where conventional broadband infrastructure is difficult to lay. That makes the regulatory process relevant not only to competition between large technology and telecom companies, but also to the way India connects locations that remain underserved by fixed-line and terrestrial networks.
The immediate question is therefore not only whether Starlink is ready to operate, but when spectrum, security and other government clearances will allow licensed providers to begin services. The next milestone will be the government’s finalisation of the revenue-sharing framework and its assessment of the companies’ security compliance.
