Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman of Bharti Enterprises, has responded to Elon Musk’s recent claims regarding the obstacles faced by Starlink in entering the Indian market. Mittal stated that Eutelsat OneWeb applied for approval five years ago, yet is still awaiting the necessary government permissions. At the Bloomberg New Economy Forum 2026, he emphasised that OneWeb has had its ground infrastructure ready for three years and satellites positioned over India for the same duration.

Mittal remarked, “I think I am significantly ahead in the queue from him. 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.” This statement underscores the competitive landscape in the satellite communications sector in India.

Starlink’s Regulatory Challenges in India

Despite holding an initial licence to provide satellite communications services in India, Starlink has not yet fulfilled all regulatory requirements necessary for commencing commercial operations. The company’s entry into the market hinges on the completion of applicable regulatory and security protocols, as well as obtaining the requisite spectrum assignment.

Earlier this month, Musk accused unnamed “oligarchs” of hindering Starlink’s progress to protect their market dominance. He specifically questioned the influence of Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani, asking, “Is Ambani the real boss of India?” Musk’s comments reflect his frustration with the regulatory landscape, stating that Starlink has spent years complying with Indian regulations without being able to commence operations.

In a response to Musk’s remarks, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi joined the conversation, stating, “Welcome to India, Elon. Wait till you discover the other guy.” Musk acknowledged Gandhi’s comment, expressing concern about the situation. He later intensified his critique of Ambani, referring to him as “Prime Minister Ambani” and sharing reports about Reliance-linked donations to the BJP.

Government’s Response to Allegations

The Ministry of Communications has firmly rejected Musk’s allegations, labelling them as “baseless and misconceived.” The government maintains that all satellite operators must adhere to the established regulatory processes and meet the same requirements before launching their services in India. Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia reiterated that India does not support monopolies in any sector.

Speaking at the India Mobile Congress, he stated that the Department of Telecommunications is technology-agnostic and aims to provide customers with a diverse range of services. “Our job is to be able to provide the bouquet of services to every single customer. It is for the customer to choose in a free market which service he or she prefers,” Scindia explained.

The minister also identified three companies that have secured satellite communications licences in India: Musk’s Starlink, Reliance Jio’s satellite venture Jio Satellite Communications, and Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb. Additionally, Amazon’s Project Kuiper has expressed interest in entering the Indian market and must comply with the prescribed procedures to do so.

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