New Delhi, November 5: Regulatory and security clearances, rather than opposition from domestic telecom companies, remain the principal obstacles to Elon Musk’s Starlink launching satellite internet services in India, according to a report by Europinion. The delay has also drawn attention to the country’s connectivity gaps, with more than 11,000 villages still lacking 4G coverage as of May 2026.
Although Starlink secured an operating licence in June 2025, it has yet to begin commercial services in India. The company is awaiting security clearance, spectrum allocation and approvals related to foreign investment, the report said.
The findings challenge Musk’s allegation in October that powerful business interests were preventing Starlink from entering the Indian market. The government rejected his accusation as baseless and misconceived.
However, Europinion said neither side had presented the complete picture. It pointed out that Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, two major domestic telecom operators, had entered into agreements with Starlink in 2025 to distribute its services to Indian customers.
The report also highlighted differences between the industry’s position on spectrum allocation and the government’s eventual approach. While Indian telecom operators had supported allocating satellite spectrum through auctions, the government opted for administrative allocation, a mechanism more closely aligned with Starlink’s preference.
A government committee approved the spectrum pricing in September, but the final decision remains pending, according to the publication. It said the competing accounts surrounding Starlink’s entry contained gaps, with regulatory and security considerations emerging as central issues.
Security clearance has also affected other satellite internet ventures, including Jio’s satellite business and Eutelsat OneWeb, indicating that the requirement extends beyond Starlink.
The report cited two security-related incidents to explain why authorities have maintained scrutiny of satellite communication equipment. Devices carrying Starlink branding were recovered during a drug seizure near the Andaman Islands and a security raid in Manipur in 2024.
While the government has indicated that a decision on spectrum pricing is approaching, it has not publicly explained the prolonged security clearance process or specified when the outstanding checks will conclude.
The delay assumes wider significance against the backdrop of India’s remaining connectivity gaps. More than 11,000 villages across the country lacked 4G connectivity as of May 2026, according to the report.
Europinion argued that simplifying regulatory approval procedures could help address connectivity challenges in underserved areas. However, Starlink’s commercial entry remains dependent on the completion of the pending approvals, leaving the timeline for its Indian launch uncertain.
