SpaceX’s Starlink, Reliance Jio, and Eutelsat OneWeb are all waiting for final regulatory clearances to launch satellite internet services in India, according to Inc42. The dispute gained public attention when SpaceX chairman Elon Musk criticized the Indian government and Reliance Industries, arguing that Jio was creating a monopoly in the satellite communications sector. Musk noted that Starlink holds licenses in more than 165 nations and has spent five years meeting Indian legal requirements, questioning why a full license had not been granted.
The Ministry of Communications responded by denying allegations of unequal treatment, stating that the authorization framework is fair and that all three operators are at broadly the same regulatory stage. Inc42 reported that the Department of Telecommunications has issued Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite licenses to all three companies, but security assessments and spectrum assignments remain pending. These steps are distinct from the initial licenses and are required before commercial launch. Eutelsat OneWeb received its license in 2021, Jio in 2022, and Starlink in 2025, yet none have completed the final technical demonstrations in the same order.
Reliance Industries countered that it welcomes competition, provided Starlink follows Indian policies, while Jio’s satellite subsidiary reported revenue growth in its recent financial filings. Sunil Bharti Mittal, chairman of Bharti Enterprises, stated that OneWeb has been waiting for approval for five years and is ready to launch. Experts cited by Inc42, including Sohom Banerjee, argued that the delay is not necessarily proof of favoritism but highlights the need for clearer regulatory criteria and documented decision-making processes for each applicant.
The approval process involves four distinct steps: the GMPCS license, IN-SPACe authorization, security assessment, and spectrum assignment. Conflating these stages complicates the narrative of who is ahead in the queue. Security checks are particularly important because satellite operators control parts of the communications network that may be used in strategically sensitive areas. Inc42 noted that while Starlink claims to have built dedicated infrastructure in India, this does not guarantee spectrum allocation. Ultimately, no company has launched satellite internet services in India yet, leaving the commercial race in a state of regulatory anticipation.