The Indian authorities have rejected Elon Musk’s unfounded claims of “discrimination” against “Starlink”.
elchi reports that this was stated by India’s Minister of Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia.
“India does not allow monopolies in any sector. Currently, all three companies that have received satellite communication licenses are at the same regulatory stage, waiting for permission from the Ministry of Home Affairs to launch these commercial services,” The Economic Times quotes the minister as saying.
These companies – “Starlink”, “Reliance Jio”, and “Eutelsat OneWeb” – will be able to start operations after the government determines a revenue-based spectrum usage fee system and security requirements are met, Scindia added. Like the other two companies, “Starlink” has received permission from India’s space regulator to use satellite communications, but cannot begin commercial operations until the necessary procedures are completed.
The department head’s statement was a response to Musk’s question as to why “Starlink”, which is licensed in more than 165 countries, has not yet received the necessary permits to start services in India. “The oligarchs in this country are blocking our company to protect their commercial interests,” the billionaire wrote on social media.
The Indian authorities had been considering Musk’s proposal to launch “Starlink” in the country since 2021, when SpaceX established a branch in the republic to provide mobile satellite system services for high-speed broadband internet access. In early July 2025, the Indian Cabinet of Ministers granted a preliminary license to “Starlink”, which opened up opportunities for SpaceX to begin commercial operations in the country after committing to comply with India’s national security laws. In early 2026, New Delhi rejected the US company’s application to deploy a second-generation satellite network because it did not meet security requirements and “Starlink” intended to use frequency bands banned in India. In August, the company re-submitted its application.
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