New Delhi: India has rejected Elon Musk’s claim that “certain oligarchs” are blocking Starlink’s entry into the country to protect their monopoly, asserting that its regulatory framework for satellite communications is fair and non-discriminatory.
The Ministry of Communications said the same authorisation framework applies to all telecom and satellite communication companies seeking to operate in India.
The clarification came after Musk, the billionaire founder of SpaceX, alleged on X that Starlink was being prevented from launching its services in India.
“Unfortunately, we are being blocked by certain oligarchs in order to maintain their monopolistic chokehold on the Indian people,” Musk said.
Responding to the claim, the ministry said India has granted Global Mobile Personal Communications by Satellite (GMPCS) licences to three companies — Starlink, Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio Satellite Communications Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Jio Platforms.
Unfortunately, we are being blocked by certain oligarchs in order to maintain their monopolistic chokehold on the Indian people. You can guess who they are …
This is a crime against the people of India!
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 7, 2026
Amazon Leo, owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, is also seeking a licence to provide satellite communication services in India.
The ministry said the licences have been issued under a framework that allows satellite communication services using non-geostationary satellite orbit systems.
It stressed that all licensees must comply with prescribed security requirements before proceeding to the next stage of the regulatory process.
“Security assessment as part of this process is currently under way in respect of all three licensees,” the ministry said.
Once the security assessment is completed for a licensed company, it can proceed to seek spectrum assignment, according to the ministry.
The government also rejected suggestions that Starlink was being singled out, saying all three companies holding GMPCS licences are broadly at the same regulatory stage.
The clarification comes more than a year after Starlink secured its GMPCS licence to operate in India. Despite obtaining the licence, the company has yet to receive all necessary approvals to begin commercial services.
The ministry said claims that India’s satellite communication regulatory framework is being applied selectively are “baseless and misconceived.”
Starlink Says It Is Ready
Musk’s remarks came shortly after a senior SpaceX executive said Starlink was ready to launch its services in India.
Speaking at India Mobile Congress 2026, Lauren Dreyer, vice president of Starlink Business Operations at SpaceX, said the company had already invested in infrastructure required to serve the Indian market.
Dreyer said Starlink had designed its India operations around the country’s security and regulatory requirements, including measures to keep Indian user data within the country.
“We’ve already made the investment and built the existing ground infrastructure here,” she said, adding that Starlink has established 20 gateway sites equipped with hundreds of antennas.
She said the company had also put the necessary operational systems in place and was ready to begin serving Indian customers once the remaining regulatory requirements are completed.
