Amid intensifying debate around the launch of satellite broadband operations in India, Bharti Airtel Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal stated that his enterprise, Eutelsat OneWeb, is positioned far ahead of Elon Musk's Starlink to secure regulatory approvals for satellite communications services. Speaking on Wednesday, Mittal pointed out that his business submitted its formal license application 5 years ago. Reflecting on the timeline, he expressed that it would be gratifying if his venture received commercial authorization at least a few days ahead of Starlink's clearance in the country.
Satellites Orbiting India for Five Years With Ground Infrastructure Ready
Addressing queries at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum 2026 regarding recent statements by Musk directed at domestic telecom entrepreneurs, Mittal remarked that he believes he is well ahead in the queue because of the application filed 5 years ago. Expanding on operational readiness, Bharti Airtel's chairman revealed that their ground station network has been fully functional for the past 3 years. Furthermore, operational satellites have already been orbiting above India for 5 years. Despite having hardware in orbit and base facilities ready on the ground, the business still awaits final regulatory clearance to switch on customer operations, prompting his call for priority consideration.
Government Pushes Back Against Monopoly Allegations
The remarks follow assertions made recently by Elon Musk on social media platform X, where he alleged that certain business interests were striving to preserve a monopoly within India by obstructing Starlink's entry. The Ministry of Communications responded the very next day, asserting that describing the nation's regulatory framework or its enforcement as unfair or discriminatory is baseless and founded on misconceptions. Reinforcing this position, Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia stated last week that India does not permit monopolies in any commercial sector.
Think Tank Urges Strict Guardrails on Foreign Satcom Providers
As deliberations continue over satcom licensing rules, Indian research institute Kootneeti Foundation has urged the government to enforce strict, non-negotiable compliance norms on overseas satellite internet providers. The research body observed that the Starlink service, operated under Musk's SpaceX, could hand the United States a strategic upper hand over core communications infrastructure. According to the institute's evaluation, failing to institute robust operational safeguards on foreign providers could potentially compromise India's technological sovereignty.
