India’s Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said the decision on whether satellite internet companies have met the country’s security requirements rests with the Ministry of Home Affairs, speaking on Friday at the India Mobile Congress 2026 in New Delhi. He also said three companies — Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel-backed Eutelsat OneWeb and SpaceX’s Starlink — already hold satellite communication licences in India, rejecting suggestions that any single operator had been picked.
Key facts
- Scindia said three companies hold satcom licences: Jio, Eutelsat OneWeb and Starlink, according to BW Businessworld.
- A licence does not by itself allow commercial operations; each operator must separately meet security requirements and other regulatory conditions, the minister said.
- Security compliance will be assessed by the government and the Ministry of Home Affairs, which decides whether the requirements have been met, Scindia told Mint.
- Satellite spectrum will be priced administratively rather than auctioned; BW Businessworld reports the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) were close to a final decision on revenue-based charges.
- Mint reports the DoT decided in September 2026 to assign spectrum administratively and approved a spectrum usage charge of 5% of adjusted gross revenue for satellite internet providers, a proposal now awaiting final cabinet approval.
- Scindia said India does not allow a monopoly in any sector and that the government’s approach is technology-neutral.
Why it matters
Scindia’s remarks set out what still stands between Starlink and paying Indian customers: a finalised charging framework for satellite spectrum, and a security sign-off that, on his account, sits with a ministry other than his own. Mint reports he said operations can begin once the revenue charges system is finalised and once each of the three licensees has individually fulfilled the security requirements — so holding the licence does not start the clock. Our earlier report on the security rules that have kept Starlink waiting on spectrum traces how that process has run so far.
What Scindia said
Scindia framed the clearance as someone else’s call. Asked at the India Mobile Congress when security requirements would count as satisfied, he said the Government of India and the Ministry of Home Affairs have to state that a company has shown compliance, and added that “that is something that comes under the ministry of home,” according to Mint.
On sequencing, he said the compliance exercise is done by each operator separately rather than cleared for the industry at once, Mint reported.
What it means for availability and price
None of the three outlets reports a launch date, a coverage map or a set of service plans for India; Scindia described the conditions for starting operations, not when they would be met. Nor do the sources give any figure for what Indian subscribers would pay. The only cost figure disclosed is the proposed spectrum usage charge of 5% of adjusted gross revenue, which Mint describes as a charge levied on satellite internet providers — a regulatory cost on operators, not a published retail price. Readers tracking a comparable queue elsewhere can see our separate reporting that Starlink remains unlicensed in South Africa, a distinct regulatory process from the one Scindia described.
The row behind the remarks
The comments follow public allegations by SpaceX founder and chief executive Elon Musk that delays to Starlink’s Indian launch were the result of a power play by “oligarchs”, Mint reports. Mint quotes Musk posting on X on Thursday evening that Starlink is licensed in over 165 countries and has spent five years complying with every law and requirement of the Indian government, and asking why there is still no licence.
The Ministry of Communications refuted any suggestion of bias on Thursday, calling the allegations “baseless and misconceived”, according to Mint. Bharti Enterprises founder and chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal said on Thursday that Eutelsat OneWeb was also waiting for its own approval and hoped to receive it soon.
Separately, Moneycontrol reports Scindia took a dig at the Congress party after Rahul Gandhi responded to Musk’s allegations, saying the party did not know whether it was “going left or right”.
Starlink has set out its own position. Mint reports the company said in New Delhi on Wednesday that it built its operations specifically for India in recognition of Indian security requirements and other regulations, establishing controls at every layer and keeping Indian user data within India. We covered that in our report on how Starlink says its Indian build is finished and it is waiting on spectrum.
The wider market numbers
Scindia used the event to set satellite connectivity against India’s terrestrial build-out. BW Businessworld reports he cited about USD 50 billion invested in 5G networks over two and a half years, coverage reaching nearly 99.9% of districts and 86.86% of the population, and around 550 million subscribers on those 5G networks. Moneycontrol reports he put India’s broadband connections at 1.1 billion — a count of total broadband connections rather than 5G users alone, which is why the two figures differ — also citing 5G coverage across 99.9% of districts.
He said the government’s role was to offer a bouquet of services and let customers choose in a free market which service and which company they prefer, according to BW Businessworld. He added that operators would need to move beyond conventional voice and data towards value-added offerings as the industry shifts from 5G to 5G Standalone and eventually 6G.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did each of India’s three satellite internet licensees get its licence?
According to Mint, Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb secured India’s first satellite internet licence in 2022, Jio Satellite followed in October 2022, and Starlink received its licence in June 2025. BW Businessworld reports Starlink received authorisation to provide global mobile personal communications by satellite services in 2025.
Is Amazon licensed to offer satellite internet in India?
No. BW Businessworld reports that Amazon’s Project Kuiper is interested in entering the market but must follow the prescribed licensing process. Mint describes the same company as Amazon Leo and calls it the fourth operator in the fray to procure a licence; the two outlets use different names for it.
Why does India have security concerns about satellite internet specifically?
Mint reports the delay stems largely from security concerns, particularly that India’s internet traffic exits the country, often via foreign operators such as Starlink and Amazon’s Leo, and that the government has stayed cautious even after the companies promised to comply and demonstrated how their systems work.
Does a TRAI recommendation on spectrum charges settle the matter?
Not necessarily. Scindia cautioned against assuming regulatory recommendations translate into immediate decisions, telling BW Businessworld that discussions between TRAI and the Department of Telecommunications could continue after recommendations are submitted.
Did Starlink try to sell in India before it was licensed?
Yes. BW Businessworld reports that Starlink registered its Indian business in 2021 and began advertising and accepting pre-orders, before authorities intervened citing the absence of the necessary approvals. The company subsequently applied for the required licence.
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