India should welcome new technology, foreign investment and competition in telecommunications. But it must also recognise that some commercial services can become matters of national security. When communications networks are used by the armed forces, emergency services and critical public institutions, their availability cannot be left entirely to commercial considerations.

The controversy surrounding Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service has brought this question into focus. Musk’s public clash with Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani is ostensibly about competition, market access and consumer choice. But the larger issue is whether India can afford to become excessively dependent on a critical communications network controlled by a foreign private company.Ukraine’s experience offers an important lesson. According to Reuters, Ukrainian military operations faced disruption in October after restrictions were imposed on satellite communications supporting drone missions. A Reuters report on October 15 said the reported order to limit access to the military-oriented Starshield system had come from within the White House. The service was subsequently restored following discussions between the US and British defence leadership.

An important distinction must be made here. Starlink provides satellite broadband services, while Starshield is a separate, military-oriented system developed by SpaceX for government and defence applications.  Nevertheless, the episode raises a serious question: what happens when a country becomes dependent on a communications network whose operations are controlled by a private company based abroad?

The fact remains, Ukraine has benefited enormously from Starlink since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. The service helped keep hospitals, government offices and emergency services connected when conventional communications infrastructure was damaged. It also became important for military communications and drone operations. Starlink has played an important role in helping Ukraine withstand the crisis. But its recent experience also shows that over-reliance on a privately run network can pose a security risk when circumstances change.India needs to learn from this. It does not mean that Starlink is unsafe or that American technology should be avoided. The point is simple: no country should depend so heavily on a foreign-controlled communication network that its national security is at risk if that service is disrupted or restricted. India must have reliable alternatives of its........

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