Story perspectives

Eutelsat OneWeb Leads Starlink’s India Satellite-Approval Queue

By Drooid · Oct 14, 2026, 4:30 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Mittal: OneWeb Leads

Sunil Bharti Mittal says Eutelsat OneWeb currently leads Starlink in India's satellite-approval queue.
Mittal applied for approval five years ago.
His ground network can operate for three years.
Elon Musk alleged certain oligarchs, naming Mukesh Ambani, block Starlink to keep a monopoly.
India's Ministry of Communications says the satcom framework is fair, non-discriminatory and all operators undergo security reviews.

Summary

Airtel Jio Agreement

Airtel and Jio signed SpaceX agreements to distribute Starlink equipment in India pending approval in March 2025.
Airtel aims to raise data-centre capacity from about 300 MW to 1 GW and create a sovereign cloud for Indian enterprises.
Jio chairman Akash Ambani said the firm is developing AI-enabled voice, data services, satellite connectivity and a home-grown 6G stack.
Affordability concerns dominate discussions because Starlink pricing must suit India’s price-sensitive consumer base.

History

Historical Context

India’s 2009 National Satellite Policy ended the state monopoly on satellite communications, allocating 2 GHz Ku-band spectrum to twelve private operators such as Bharti Enterprises and Tata Communications. The change built on the INSAT system, commissioned in 1983, which created a national geostationary network for TV, telecom and weather services. Today foreign firms like SpaceX and OneWeb seek licences while Indian companies arrange Starlink distribution.

1 of 3

Mittal: OneWeb Leads

Sunil Bharti Mittal says Eutelsat OneWeb currently leads Starlink in India's satellite-approval queue.
Mittal applied for approval five years ago.
His ground network can operate for three years.
Elon Musk alleged certain oligarchs, naming Mukesh Ambani, block Starlink to keep a monopoly.
India's Ministry of Communications says the satcom framework is fair, non-discriminatory and all operators undergo security reviews.

1 / 3