India Delays Jio, Starlink and OneWeb Satcom Launches Amid Security Concerns
India’s commercial satellite internet rollout is still delayed, with permissions for Jio, Starlink and OneWeb held up over security concerns. The government is also looking at hazards arising out of foreign satellite networks bypassing Indian gateways.
Government officials and business executives in India have said that security concerns and a lack of trust in international satellite operators have delayed the commercial introduction of satellite internet services, even though India issued the first licence for them over four years ago. Satellite operators' potential to divert internet traffic away from Indian gateways and toward foreign infrastructure is a source of concern for the government.
Despite satcom providers assuring law enforcement agencies they possess the necessary equipment to prevent gateway bypass in India, this remains the case. The operators have also finished security trials, adjusted their systems to meet Indian standards, and promised to comply, according to an executive in the business. However, the executive said that the Department of Telecoms (DoT) has not provided any updates on the approval status, additional clarity, or spectrum assignment in the past few months.
Indian Govt Securing Every Corner Before it Gives its Nod
Starlink, owned by Elon Musk; Eutelsat OneWeb, funded by Bharti; and Jio Satellite Communications Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Jio Platforms, are among the operators that have obtained GMPCS (global mobile personal communication by satellite) licences and other statutory permissions. Amazon Leo, which is controlled by Jeff Bezos, is also competing for the licence. They are international satellite companies. An official from the administration also mentioned that, in order to keep everything under control, the govt will have to exercise caution before approving anything.
He pointed out that the PMO and the Home Affairs Ministry need to give the go-ahead. In April 2022, OneWeb India became the first Indian company to obtain a GMPCS licence. In October 2022, Jio Satellite followed the same route, and Starlink did so in June 2025. In 2023, the merger between Eutelsat and OneWeb was finalised. Bharti Enterprises is one of several investors in the combined company, along with the governments of France and the United Kingdom. Musk owns Starlink in every aspect. Jio Platforms, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries, owns and controls Jio Satellite 100%.
Law enforcement agencies voiced their belief that authorisation should not be granted until India has control over these satellite systems during a presentation to the PMO a few months ago, according to the official. The speaker was telecom secretary Amit Agrawal. This becomes more important when considering Starlink's involvement in the Iran war, which has shown how difficult it is for governments to regulate or limit the connectivity offered by a satellite network controlled by a foreign power.
How Players are Preparing for the Mega Launch?
In light of Jio's construction of India's sovereign low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation, the approval delay for current licence holders is significant. Therefore, the action poses a threat to competitors like Starlink and Amazon Leo. The telecom operator is in the process of planning a constellation of 1,600 satellites. Further, they are requesting help from IN-SPACe, India's space nodal agency, and the telecoms department in order to apply for international recognition and frequency coordination through the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
Although CEOs have pointed fingers at Starlink and other companies for the clearance delays, a government official has stated that certification for satellite internet is not urgently needed at this time due to the niche nature of the business. This comes after Jio launched its sovereign satellite constellation. Because satellite systems utilise globally coordinated radio-frequency spectrum and orbital resources, the operator of a large LEO constellation must engage with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
Operators joining later will also need to make adjustments to orbital slots, which might cause interference with current operators' frequencies. To relieve Indian satellite operators of the legal burden of protecting all foreign constellations that have already been registered in all applicable frequency bands, the government is currently working on a plan to guarantee equal coordination rights between incumbent and Indian satellite operators.
