165 Countries, Five Years Of Compliance: Why Starlink Is Still Awaiting India’s Nod

The debate over Starlink’s entry into India has intensified after Elon Musk questioned delays in securing a commercial operating licence, prompting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to welcome the SpaceX-owned satellite internet company to the country.

Musk responded to Gandhi’s remarks, describing the situation as ‘really concerning’.

In a post on X, Musk said Starlink had secured licences in more than 165 countries and had spent five years complying with Indian laws and regulatory requirements. He questioned why the company had yet to receive approval to launch commercial services in India.

Musk raised questions about the influence of Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani in the telecommunications sector.

The government rejected allegations of regulatory bias, maintaining that India’s telecom framework applies uniform rules to all companies.

The Ministry of Communications said satellite communication providers must fulfil prescribed security requirements before authorities proceed with further steps, including spectrum allocation. It further added that the companies concerned remained at broadly similar stages of the regulatory process.

Starlink has continued preparing for a potential launch in India.

At India Mobile Congress 2026, Lauren Dreyer, the company’s vice-president of business operations, said Starlink had developed security controls tailored to the Indian market.

Dreyer highlighted infrastructure preparations involving 20 gateway sites and hundreds of antennas. She said the company had made arrangements to keep Indian users’ data within the country.

Starlink maintains that it has worked with Indian regulators, industry representatives and telecommunications stakeholders for five years to meet local requirements.

The company still needs the necessary approvals before beginning commercial operations.

The dispute has renewed attention on competition in India’s satellite internet market, where regulatory clearances, spectrum allocation and security compliance remain essential requirements for service providers.

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