Full Breakdown
Bharti Airtel Says It Is Ahead of Starlink in India’s Satellite-Internet Approval Queue
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
At the Bloomberg New Economy Forum on October 14, 2026, Sunil Bharti Mittal, chairman of Bharti Enterprises, said his Eutelsat OneWeb venture is “significantly ahead” of Elon Musk’s Starlink in the Indian regulatory queue for satellite-communication services. The Ministry of Communications says the approval framework is “fair and non-discriminatory” and that all three licensed operators are at a comparable stage of security assessment.
Background & Context
India’s satcom licensing requires a GMPCS licence, a DoT operator licence, and Home Ministry security clearance. Three companies hold the GMPCS licence: Starlink, Reliance Jio’s Jio Satellite Communications, and Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb. Amazon’s Project Kuiper is also pursuing the same process. Starlink obtained its operator licence in 2025 but still awaits security clearance and spectrum allocation. Reliance Jio is building a low-Earth-orbit constellation of about 1,600 satellites at an estimated $10–15 billion cost.
Timeline
- ~2021 – Eutelsat OneWeb submitted its satcom licence application.
- Nov 2022 – Starlink applied for a GMPCS licence.
- 2025 – Starlink received a DoT operator licence.
- Oct 7, 2026 – Lauren Dreyer, vice-president of Starlink business operations, noted 20 ground gateways built in India.
- Oct 9, 2026 – Musk posted on X questioning whether Mukesh Ambani is “the real boss of India.”
- Oct 14, 2026 – Mittal reiterated that his venture’s ground network has been ready for three years and its satellites have hovered over India for five years.
Data & Statistics
- Application age: Eutelsat OneWeb applied five years ago; Starlink’s operator licence came three years after its first application.
- Infrastructure readiness: OneWeb reports a ground network ready for three years and satellites positioned over India for five years.
- Investment scale: Reliance Jio’s planned constellation is projected at 1,600–1,650 satellites costing $10–15 billion.
Official Statements & Responses
The Ministry added that once security conditions are met, each entity may proceed to spectrum assignment, which will be on a revenue-sharing basis after the pricing framework is finalised.
Criticism & Opposition
Musk asked on X, “Is Ambani the real boss of India?” and accused Indian business elites of maintaining a “monopolistic chokehold” on digital infrastructure.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Mittal’s claim: His venture is “significantly ahead” of Starlink, citing earlier application and ready-to-deploy infrastructure.
- Government’s view: All three licensed operators are at “broadly the same regulatory stage,” indicating no preferential treatment.
- Unresolved details: Specific pending security conditions and a timeline for final clearance have not been disclosed, leaving launch dates uncertain.
Verbatim Quote
- “I think I am significantly ahead in the queue from him. I applied five years back,” — Sunil Bharti Mittal, Bharti Enterprises chairman
