Starlink India launch delayed, Elon Musk gets angry: What approvals are pending?

Elon Musk has once again raised questions over why Starlink has not started commercial operations in India, as the satellite internet company continues to wait for some of the approvals needed to begin services. Musk reacted to a series of posts on X supporting Starlink's entry into India. In one of them, an X user argued that satellite internet could help connect remote and underserved parts of the country, pointing to gaps in rural connectivity and the difficulties of extending terrestrial networks to difficult terrain.Musk got angry and responded by accusing unnamed business interests of blocking Starlink's India launch. “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!” he wrote.The Indian government, however, has rejected the allegation and said its satellite communication approval process is the same for all operators.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, 2026Why is Starlink still waiting to launch in India?Starlink has been trying to enter the Indian market for several years. Its formal application for a Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) licence was submitted in November 2022. The company eventually received its GMPCS licence from the Department of Telecommunications in June 2025. It also received authorisation from IN-SPACe, India's space regulator, in July 2025. But these approvals do not by themselves allow Starlink to start commercial services. The company still needs to complete the security assessment and other regulatory requirements before spectrum can be assigned for commercial operations.The government said security assessments are currently being carried out for all three satellite operators with GMPCS licences — Starlink, Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio Satellite Communications.One major hurdle One of the biggest issues is whether Starlink's network can meet India's security requirements. The rules require satellite operators to ensure that Indian traffic can be monitored and controlled within the country. They also include requirements related to lawful interception, data localisation and the ability to restrict services in particular locations or to specific users when required.Starlink's network architecture has received particular attention because its satellites can pass data between one another using inter-satellite laser links before the traffic reaches a ground station. Authorities have therefore been examining whether the network can meet India's requirements during emergencies or security situations.Starlink says it has already taken steps to address these concerns. At the India Mobile Congress (IMC), SpaceX Vice President of Starlink business operations Lauren Dreyer said the company had established 20 gateway sites in India and built security controls specifically for the country."We are standing ready to serve India once India is ready," Dreyer said.Foreign investment is another issue still awaiting clearance. Starlink Satellite Communications is fully owned by SpaceX, and its FDI proposal was still pending as of October 8. Spectrum is another piece of the puzzle. India has chosen administrative allocation of satellite spectrum rather than auctions, but the final framework, including the amount satellite operators will pay, is still being completed.The Department of Telecommunications has proposed a spectrum usage charge of 5 per cent of adjusted gross revenue, with an incentive for operators serving remote areas. The proposal was still awaiting Union Cabinet approval as of October 8. Without the final spectrum framework and assignment, Starlink cannot begin commercial operations.Musk says Starlink could help underserved usersMusk's latest comments came after X posts argued that Starlink could provide another way to connect villages and areas where traditional broadband infrastructure is difficult to deploy. In another post, Musk said Starlink in India would provide “high-speed, affordable Internet connectivity” to people who either cannot afford existing services or do not have a connection.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, 2026Starlink has also been preparing for an India launch despite the regulatory delays. It has partnerships with Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, while its infrastructure preparations include gateway sites and India-specific security measures. The company has also been working on customer onboarding through Aadhaar authentication and has explored connectivity projects with state governments.- Ends