Elon Musk-led Starlink said it has received encouraging feedback from the Indian government, with which the satellite internet company continues “active discussion,” despite reports of a freeze on approval for the company to begin commercial operations in India.
According to a senior company official, the Government of India and Starlink have had “fruitful and active” discussions regarding its capabilities to advance India’s connectivity goals.
“Starlink continues to have active and productive discussions with the government of India, contrary to misleading stories based on unverified claims from anonymous sources,” Lauren Dreyer, vice president of Starlink business operations, said on social media platform X. “We have worked with the government through all required regulatory and compliance processes in a transparent and responsible manner.”
“We have heard nothing but encouraging feedback about Starlink’s capabilities and its ability to advance India’s connectivity ambitions, especially in remote and underserved areas. We remain fully committed to India and to working with the government to bring Starlink services very soon to the country,” she added.
Dreyer said Starlink worked with the government through all required regulatory and compliance processes in a transparent and responsible manner.
“To align with India’s sovereign technology, regulatory and security requirements, Starlink has created a dedicated India deployment model that demonstrates our commitment to operating within India’s strategic framework,” she added.
What is the problem with Starlink in India?
Starlink has applied for a license to start satellite communications services in India. The government has issued a letter of intent to the company, and the final license is still awaited.
The latest clarification came from a senior company official in response to a source-based report claiming that India has effectively frozen approvals for Starlink to start commercial operations. According to a Bloomberg report, the government has raised concerns about the use of Starlink satellite stations in the Iran war.
The government has issued licenses to two other applicants in the sector – Bharti Group-backed Eutelsat Oneweb and Jio-SGS (Space Technology Ltd). The two companies are now waiting for spectrum to be allocated to offer their services.
SpaceX IPO
SpaceX intends to conduct an initial public offering (IPO), which is expected to price what could become the largest in history by listing on the Nasdaq, targeting a valuation of about $1.75 trillion.
According to a Bloomberg report, Starlink is central to the company’s revenue growth story, making regulatory hurdles in key markets like India particularly significant.
