India rejects Elon Musk’s claim of discrimination over Starlink launch
India has rejected Elon Musk’s claim that Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet service, is being unfairly blocked from launching in the country. The pushback comes as SpaceX struggles to turn years of regulatory work and partnerships with India’s biggest telecom operators into a commercial launch in one of the world’s largest internet markets. On Wednesday, Musk […]
India has dismissed Elon Musk's claim that Starlink, SpaceX's satellite internet service, is being unfairly blocked from launching in the country. Musk accused unnamed "oligarchs" of blocking Starlink's launch in India to maintain a "monopolistic chokehold" on the market, without identifying them or providing evidence. The Indian Ministry of Communications responded, stating that its regulatory framework for satellite communications is "fair and non-discriminatory."
All three licensed satellite operators, including Starlink, are at the same regulatory stage and undergoing security assessments before seeking spectrum. Despite securing key regulatory approvals and partnering with telecom giants, SpaceX has yet to begin commercial services in India, a market with over a billion internet subscribers.
Musk's comments came after Starlink's vice president of business operations, Lauren Dreyer, reiterated the company's commitment to the market at a telecom industry conference. Starlink has been working on adapting its operations to meet India's regulatory, security, and data-sovereignty requirements.
Written by urgent.news from GBC Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
