Why RSS affiliate wants Centre to deny Elon Musk's Starlink a licence for satellite internet in India

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) affiliated publication Jagran has called on the Indian government to deny Starlink, owned by Elon Musk, permission to launch satellite internet services in the country, citing national security concerns, according to The Hindu. Jagran's national co-convenor, Ashwani Mahajan, expressed worries that Starlink's technology could potentially allow authorities to restrict services in specific regions when necessary.

He referenced the ongoing law-and-order challenges in India, stating that internet-based social media often fuels rumors and anti-national narratives during instances of separatism, terrorism, riots, protests, and similar events, making it essential to disrupt internet services. The statement comes in the wake of protests in New Delhi over alleged irregularities in the special intensive revision (SIR) exercise and calls for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation.

The Supreme Court recently ordered the government to ensure "internet facilities should function unhindered," according to The Hindu. Mahajan raised concerns about Starlink's use of laser links, which enable satellites to transmit data directly to one another before reaching a ground station, suggesting that Indian authorities need assurance that domestic internet traffic would pass through domestic gateways rather than foreign infrastructure.

The organization also highlighted the potential misuse of satellite internet by hostile actors, smugglers, or insurgent groups, as well as security-related experiences in other countries like Ukraine, Iran, Russia, China, and Taiwan. Jagran emphasized India's existing telecommunications infrastructure, including domestic mobile and broadband networks, which provide affordable connectivity and can be restricted by authorities when necessary.

The organization also pointed to India's space programs, such as PSLV, Chandrayaan, Gaganyaan, NISAR, and Chandrayaan-4, to showcase the country's growing technological capabilities and the potential for indigenous satellite-based internet services to provide affordable connectivity to remote areas. Jagran urged the government to deny Starlink a license unless the company can meet national security requirements and linked the issue to India-US trade relations, arguing that India could restrict foreign companies on security grounds, similar to how other countries impose trade restrictions on Indian exports.