Elon Musk has been talking about bringing Starlink service in India for a long time, but now it seems that Elon Musk may have to wait a little longer. New information revealed recently has revealed that India has put a hold on the approval of Starlink due to security reasons. For those who do not know, let us tell them that Starlink is SpaceX’s satellite internet service which provides high speed internet connectivity even in areas where the telecom company’s network is weak. The company offers high speed internet due to satellites located in low-orbit.
Concern about use in Iran War
According to Bloomberg report, the Home Ministry has withheld the final approval required for Starlink on the basis of security concerns regarding reports of the use of Starlink service during the Iran war. According to the report, the US used Starlink’s satellite terminal in Iran. This report has further increased the fear in New Delhi about how much control India can exercise over US-based communication operators at a time of geopolitical tension.
Indian authorities want clarification from Starlink
Starlink had acquired Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite license in India last year. This helps in getting the service agreement in place and ready for operation but Starlink still needs security clearance before starting operations in India.
According to the report, officials are asking Starlink to explain how it will guarantee compliance with Indian security requirements, given its global presence and US ownership, if foreign governments make different demands.
India is rethinking satellite-based networks
This story is about more than just a complete shutdown of Starlink. The report said that the satellite spectrum pricing proposal required for any commercial rollout, be it Starlink or an Indian competitor, has not moved forward. According to the report, the Department of Telecommunications has finalized the framework, but it has not yet been sent to the Union Cabinet for approval.
After the Iran War, Indian authorities have taken more caution regarding the large satellite communication sector. Reliance Industries’ Jio Infocomm and Bharti Airtel, both of which have partnerships with European satellite communications providers, are also facing increased scrutiny of their arrangements. A bigger concern is the reliance on communications infrastructure controlled abroad at a time of growing geopolitical uncertainty.
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