Starlink India approval process: what operators need to know
What changed
On October 8, 2026, the Ministry of Communications said India's satellite communication rules apply equally to all licensed operators. The statement rejected claims that the regulatory framework was being used to block Starlink.
The government said it has a “fair and non-discriminatory authorisation framework” for telecommunications services, including satellite communications. It said licences have been granted to three Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite service providers using non-geostationary satellite constellations.
Each operator must demonstrate compliance with security conditions before moving to the next stage. The ministry said security assessments are under way for all three licensees, and that an operator can seek spectrum assignment only after completing that assessment.
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The statement followed SpaceX CEO Elon Musk's claim that Starlink was being blocked by “certain oligarchs” to preserve a “monopolistic chokehold on the Indian people”. Musk called the alleged hurdles “a crime against the people of India”.
Who it affects
The ministry said all three entities are at broadly the same regulatory stage, rejecting suggestions that the framework or its implementation is unfair or discriminatory.
What to do next
- Complete the security assessment before seeking spectrum assignment.
- Meet the security conditions required to move to the next stage of the regulatory process.
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