India's Stance on Starlink Justified, Says ISB Professor
India's insistence on security safeguards for Starlink is a justified move, according to Prasanna Tantri, an associate professor of finance at the Indian School of Business (ISB). Speaking on Thursday, October 8, 2026, Tantri emphasized the inherent risks when a nation becomes dependent on critical infrastructure controlled by foreign entities.
Tantri's comments came in response to Elon Musk's allegations that "certain oligarchs" in India were blocking Starlink to maintain a "monopolistic chokehold." The Ministry of Communications, however, clarified that India operates a fair and non-discriminatory authorization framework for all telecommunication services, including satellite communication, with security assessments underway for all licensed entities.
Lessons from Huawei and ZTE
To underscore India's caution, Professor Tantri recommended Edward Fishman's book, Chokepoints, which illustrates how the United States has leveraged its dominance in finance and technology as instruments of state policy. He highlighted that private ownership offers no insulation from state power, citing the US restrictions on Chinese tech giants Huawei and ZTE as prime examples.
"The restrictions on Huawei and ZTE illustrate how dependence on American technology can become a source of geopolitical vulnerability," Tantri stated. He further explained the Foreign Direct Product Rule, which mandates that even non-US companies require American permission to supply Huawei with products made using US technology, demonstrating Washington's extensive reach.
Risk of Conditional Commercial Access
Tantri warned that increased reliance on foreign-controlled critical infrastructure carries the significant risk that commercial access could eventually become conditional on political compliance. While economic interdependence can foster prosperity, he cautioned that during periods of geopolitical conflict, it can severely constrain a country's freedom to make independent choices.
"Short-term commercial gains must be weighed against that loss of autonomy. India is right to insist on security safeguards for Starlink. Economic sovereignty is difficult to recover once critical dependencies are entrenched," Tantri concluded, reinforcing the importance of national control over vital digital arteries.
Government Rejects Monopoly Claims
The Ministry of Communications firmly rejected Musk's assertion of Starlink being blocked by oligarchs. They reiterated that India’s regulatory framework for satellite communication services is fair and non-discriminatory. Three Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite services have been licensed, and all are currently undergoing security assessments as per the terms of their licenses.
The ministry clarified that all three entities are at broadly the same regulatory stage, dismissing any suggestion that the framework or its application is unfair or discriminatory as "baseless and misconceived."