Sunil Bharti Mittal, founder and chairman of Bharti Enterprises, has launched a strong critique against Elon Musk regarding the delays in Starlink's launch in India. Speaking at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum, Mittal highlighted his company's long-standing efforts and readiness in the Indian satellite internet market, asserting his position ahead of Musk's Starlink in the regulatory queue.
Years in the Making for India Satellite Internet
Mittal revealed that Bharti Enterprises applied for satellite internet permission approximately five years ago. His company's ground network has been operational for the last three years, and its satellites have been hovering over India for half a decade, awaiting final regulatory clearances.
"We are all awaiting our approvals. I am significantly ahead of him in the queue. I applied five years back. I have had my ground network ready for the last three years. My satellites have been hovering over India for the last five years. We don't have the permission. So, we will be very happy to get it at least a few days before him," Mittal stated.
Starlink has already secured a Global Mobile Personal Communication Satellite (GMCPS) licence and authorization from the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe). However, it is still awaiting crucial security clearances and spectrum allocation from the Government of India before it can commence commercial operations.
Musk's India Strategy and Government Response
Elon Musk recently expressed his frustration over Starlink's delayed entry into the Indian market, even addressing Reliance Industries (RIL) chairman Mukesh Ambani as "Prime Minister Ambani" in a series of social media posts. Musk argued for Starlink's entry by emphasizing the lack of internet access in many parts of India, which he believes hinders educational and economic opportunities.
He also highlighted Starlink's proven capability in providing critical connectivity during natural disasters globally, suggesting it could save lives in India. Musk's posts implied a monopolistic hold by Reliance over India's internet sector, urging for market competition.
The Indian government, through Communication Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, has refuted allegations of discrimination or monopoly. Scindia confirmed that three companies – Starlink, Jio Satellite Communications, and Eutelsat OneWeb – have obtained satcom licenses. The government plans to assign spectrum to these companies on a revenue-sharing basis once the definitive framework is established. The Ministry of Communications has also asserted that all three companies are undergoing security assessments under the same regulatory framework, ensuring a level playing field.