Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Friday at the India Mobile Congress that India has awarded satellite communication licences to three companies – Elon Musk’s Starlink, Reliance Jio’s JioSatcom, and Bharti‑backed Eutelsat OneWeb. The licences will allow the firms to begin operations once they satisfy the security clearance and meet the prescribed milestones. Amazon’s Kuiper Space has expressed interest but has not yet completed the licensing process. All three companies are currently undergoing the same security assessment under the Ministry of Communications’ framework. The decision comes amid a flare‑up over Musk’s claim that ‘oligarchs’ are blocking Starlink’s entry into India.
Musk’s post on X accused unnamed oligarchs of stifling Starlink and called the move a ‘crime against the people of India.’ The Ministry rejected the allegation, describing it as ‘baseless and misconceived’ and reiterated that India’s regulatory framework is fair and non‑discriminatory. TRAI is close to finalising a pricing regime for the satellite spectrum that will apply to all licence holders.
Scindia also targeted the Congress party in his remarks, noting that the party had previously opposed the licence for a single firm and had since aligned with the firm’s owner. He added that the party seemed indecisive about its political stance. The minister’s comments were made in a broader context of a political spat between Rahul Gandhi and Musk on X.
For rural users, the licences mean a potential boost in broadband availability. Shankar Singh, a farmer in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur district, said he hopes Starlink will bring reliable connectivity to his fields. The government says the rollout will commence once security clearances are passed, which could happen by the end of 2026.
The TRAI will announce the final pricing regime next month, and the Ministry will issue a go‑ahead once all security checks are cleared. Once cleared, Starlink, JioSatcom, and Eutelsat OneWeb will begin commercial operations, expanding India’s satellite broadband footprint.