Ahead Of Starlink On Satellite Internet Approvals: Bharti Enterprises' Sunil Mittal

Bharti Enterprises Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal stated on Wednesday that his company was significantly ahead of Starlink, Elon Musk's satellite internet service, in securing approvals for satellite communications services in India. During the Bloomberg New Economy Forum, Mittal noted that his firm had been granted certain approvals five years ago and is presently awaiting the remaining clearances.

Mittal expressed optimism that Bharti Enterprises would receive the necessary permissions before Starlink, emphasizing its earlier progress through the regulatory process.

In addition to satellite internet, Mittal highlighted the company's growing focus on digital infrastructure, specifically data centers and sovereign cloud services. The company aims to establish a sovereign data cloud tailored for Indian businesses, government entities, and defense forces. Mittal underscored the necessity of building domestic technological infrastructure to meet the increasing demand for secure data storage and processing. This initiative aligns with Bharti's ambitions in the satellite communications sector.

Mittal also stressed the importance of evaluating regulatory frameworks for artificial intelligence (AI) as the technology gains prominence across various industries. His remarks highlighted the significance of data infrastructure, digital security, and regulatory preparedness in India's technology landscape. Reflecting on India's economic outlook, Mittal praised the country's stable policy environment, predictability, and robust framework for foreign direct investment.

He noted that India has the potential to attract investments from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Singapore, with bilateral trade agreements further bolstering its investment prospects.

Regarding global supply chains, Mittal cautioned against excessive reliance on China, citing the vulnerabilities exposed by the concentration of manufacturing and supply networks in a single nation due to geopolitical tensions. He emphasized the need to diversify these arrangements to enhance economic resilience. Mittal also addressed the depreciation of the Indian rupee over the past one-and-a-half years, attributing it partly to disruptions in global supply chains.