Starlink India licence approval remains pending after SpaceX founder Elon Musk questioned why the satellite internet company has not received permission to begin commercial services despite spending five years complying with Indian laws and government requirements.
“Starlink is licensed in over 165 countries and has spent five years complying with every single law and requirement of the government of India, so why still no license?” Musk said in a post on X. His remarks came a day after he alleged that unnamed “oligarchs” were blocking Starlink’s entry to protect their business interests.
Starlink has received a satellite communication permit and authorisation from India’s space regulator, but is still awaiting security clearance from the government. The company also needs access to spectrum before it can launch commercial services, with the government expected to decide how spectrum for satellite communications will be priced.
Starlink is not the only company awaiting the final approvals. Bharti Group-backed Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio Satellite have also secured the required satcom permit and space-sector authorisation but are waiting for security clearance. The approvals will determine when these operators can move from regulatory preparation to commercial satellite broadband services.
At the India Mobile Congress, SpaceX vice president for Starlink business operations Lauren Dreyer said the company had built 20 gateway sites and hundreds of antennas in India. She said Starlink had adapted its operations to meet Indian security and regulatory requirements, including keeping Indian user 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,” Dreyer said. She added that the company had spent five years working with Indian regulators, industry and telecom operators to prepare for entry into the market.
Dreyer said Starlink’s management was in regular contact with authorities to resolve outstanding issues and that the company was ready to begin operations once the approvals were complete. “We’re ready to work with the government, ready to work with operators, ready to work with industry to this end,” she said.
The company is positioning satellite connectivity for areas that lack reliable internet or mobile network coverage. Starlink has signed letters of intent with the governments of Maharashtra and Meghalaya to explore connectivity for remote communities and public institutions. In March 2025, it signed agreements with Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio covering network equipment distribution, business connectivity and rural connectivity.
The next milestones are the government’s security clearance decision and the determination of spectrum pricing, after which Starlink and the other authorised operators can seek to begin commercial services.
