• Source:JND

Starlink India Rollout: India had reportedly put a halt on Stalink's satellite internet aspirations due to concerns regarding the use of its satellite terminals during the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. This space-based internet service from Elon Musk is a major driver of SpaceX's business and growth. This is a crucial juncture for the company, as it is anticipated to release its first IPO (Initial Public Offering) later in the week.

Starlink Approval In India On Hold

Bloomber, citing sources familiar with the matter, reported that security regulators under the Ministry of Home Affairs of India have put on hold the final approvals for Starlink to commence its operations in the country. Reports that suggest that Starlink terminals were used in Iran without its services being officially licensed are one of the key reasons for its non-approval. This instance has raised eyebrows amongst the authorities and has also put into question its ability to control a US-based operator as geopolitical tensions are at their peak.

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This is also a very crucial time for SpaceX, as the company is reportedly preparing to list its stock on the market on June 12, which could be valued at $1.75 trillion (approx. Rs 1.67 lakh crore). Starlink serves as a primary source for SpaceX's revenue, and this setback in one of the biggest markets, which is India, could impede its growth plans.

The delay has reportedly had a knock-on effect on the government's plans for satellite spectrum pricing, a key requirement before commercial satellite broadband services can be launched in the country. While the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is said to have completed work on the framework, the proposal is still awaiting Cabinet approval.

Starlink obtained a GMPCS (Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite) licence in India about a year ago and thereby prepared a way for itself to start operations in India. However, this alone does not allow the company to launch services because there are other regulatory and security clearances still awaiting completion.

As per the report, officials in India have been considering Starlink’s security architecture for more than a year now but have not provided any security clearance to the company so far. There has apparently been an inquiry from officials asking for clarification regarding how Starlink meets India’s security requirements considering its international operations and United States-based ownership.

The concerns stem from the possibility that geopolitical developments could create situations where different governments make conflicting demands, prompting regulators to take a closer look at how the company would address such scenarios while continuing to meet Indian regulations.

Starlink Says That It Is Not The Case

Meanwhile, Starlink has recently responded to media reports about the halt, and its vice president of business operations, Lauren Dryer, has completely dismissed these claims and has called the report from Bloomberg "misleading" on social media platform X. She has said that "Starlink remains in active and productive discussions with the government of India, contrary to misleading stories based upon unsubstantiated claims from anonymous sources".

 

She has also clarified that the company has come up with a unique bespoke deployment model that aligns with the country's sovereign technology, regulatory and security requirements. Under this new model all of the traffic of Starlink's satellite network will be routed through infrastructure based on the ground which is established within the country itself to align with Indian regulations.

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Reports also suggest that the company is working closely with Indian authorities, and the infrastructure is already in place, which might include approximately 10 gateways country-wide with a Mumbai-based hub. Company officials have also been holding multiple meetings with the government officials to speed up their launch aspirations. Although at-home operators like Reliance and Airtel are also being affected due to this increased scrutiny.


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