As Starlink inches closer to launching its satellite-based broadband services in India, the Indian government has sought clarity on its operational plans in neighbouring countries, Pakistan and Bangladesh. This move underscores the Centre’s cautious approach regarding national security and regulatory compliance before granting access to foreign satellite communication players.
According to officials familiar with the matter, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) recently asked Starlink to furnish details about its licensing status and upcoming activities in the two countries. The request aligns with India’s ongoing evaluation of foreign satcom applicants, where security and cross-border data flow are central concerns.
Starlink Has Secure Preliminary Registration
The Elon Musk-backed Starlink, a unit of SpaceX, has already secured preliminary registration from Pakistan’s space regulator and received a license to begin services in Bangladesh earlier this week. Given the region’s geopolitical sensitivities, these developments have added urgency to India’s review.
A senior telecom department official commented that “concerns around surveillance, territorial integrity, and data storage persist. All satellite communication providers must comply with India’s stringent security and technical protocols before operations can commence.”
Starlink, in its filings, has committed to storing user data locally and using satellites only for authorized Indian services. However, the company is yet to formally accept some of the more stringent technical conditions such as the establishment of data buffer zones near international borders, which restrict service operations in sensitive geographic areas.
India’s scrutiny comes at a time when domestic satcom licensees like Bharti Airtel-backed OneWeb and Reliance Jio’s satellite arm, Jio Space, have already secured clearances and signed distribution partnerships. Interestingly, both Airtel and Jio have also recently announced independent agreements to distribute Starlink’s equipment and services in India, indicating the American firm’s growing foothold in the market.
Starlink originally applied for a satellite broadband license in India in November 2022, but its application has been pending. Sources attribute this to multiple compliance hurdles, including its resistance to disclosing full beneficial ownership and its push for exemptions from some licensing norms under the Mobile Personal Communication Satellite Services (MPCS) framework.
Moreover, Indian licensing laws mandate operators to provide call data records to security agencies on demand and to suspend services during emergencies, both of which have been points of friction between Starlink and regulatory authorities.
The final greenlight for Starlink’s operations also hinges on approvals from the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe) and spectrum recommendations from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).
As Starlink expands its global satellite constellation which already exceeds 7,000 low-earth orbit satellites serving over 100 countries, India remains one of the most strategically critical markets yet to be unlocked.
Inputs From: Business Standard
