Elon Musk accused rivals of blocking competition in India’s satellite-broadband market
Reliance Industries rejected the allegations, while Bharti Enterprises said it had waited the longest
Starlink, Jio Satellite and Eutelsat OneWeb have licences to operate in India but remain unable to launch commercial services without security clearance
Approvals involve multiple departments and security agencies. The lack of coordination risks turning regulatory procedures into prolonged barriers to business
Security checks must remain rigorous, but the government should clarify approval procedures and timelines to reduce uncertainty for businesses
The Digital Communications Commission has recommended spectrum charges of 5% of adjusted gross revenue, reduced to 4% for services in remote and rural areas
Cabinet approval remains pending
Satellite broadband could improve connectivity in rural, remote and hilly regions
India’s ambitions will depend on coordinated governance, predictable approvals and fewer regulatory delays