Elon Musk alleges 'certain oligarchs' blocking Starlink in India; govt responds

The government on Thursday said India's regulatory framework for satellite communication services is fair and non-discriminatory, rejecting as "baseless and misconceived" suggestions that its application was holding up services of any particular company.

The Ministry of Communications said all three companies that have been granted licences to provide Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) services using non-geosynchronous satellite orbit-based systems are currently at "broadly the same regulatory stage".

The clarification comes after SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, in a veiled attack on certain telecom operators, alleged that "certain oligarchs" were blocking his company's satellite communication services in India to protect their monopoly.

The government said every licensed GMPCS operator is required to demonstrate compliance with security conditions before proceeding to the next stage of seeking spectrum assignment.

"Security assessment as part of this process is currently under way in respect of all the three licensees," the ministry said in a statement.

"As and when this process is completed for a licensed entity, it may proceed to the next step of seeking assignment of spectrum," it said.

"At present, all the three entities are at broadly the same regulatory stage."

The ministry said the government's framework covers all telecommunication services, including satellite communication services, and is designed to ensure that services meet security requirements for users and their data.

"As such, the suggestion that the framework or its application is unfair or discriminatory is baseless and misconceived," it said.

Musk's comments came in response to a post on social media platform X about the lack of mobile coverage in thousands of Indian villages.

A verified account operating in the name of DodgeDesigner (@cb_dodge), which posts information related to Musk and his companies, said 11,256 listed villages in India still lacked 4G coverage as of May 2026.

"Unfortunately, we are being blocked by certain oligarchs in order to maintain their monopolistic chokehold on the Indian people," Musk said in response.

"You can guess who they are... This is a crime against the people of India!" he posted.

Earlier on Wednesday, SpaceX's Starlink said it was ready to begin operations in India once the regulatory requirements are completed.

Speaking at India Mobile Congress 2026, Starlink Business Operations Vice President Lauren Dreyer said the company had invested in infrastructure for the Indian market and had built its operations around the country's security requirements.

"We've built our Starlink operations specifically for India in recognition of Indian security requirements and other regulations, establishing controls at every layer for India, and keeping Indian user data within India," she said.

Dreyer said SpaceX had already invested in ground infrastructure, including 20 gateway sites with hundreds of antennas, and had established operations to serve the Indian market.

The government has granted licences to three companies, including Starlink, to provide satellite communication services in India. However, the operators need spectrum assignment and completion of security-related requirements before launching services.