Starlink, Jio & OneWeb: Untangling The Satcom Queue

Amid Elon Musk’s allegations and Reliance’s defence, what’s the true regulatory picture and when will India actually get satcom services?

Added to Saved Stories in Login VIEW SAVED STORIES .inc42-toggle-item-popup { display: none; position: relative; } .toggle-item-close { text-align: end; padding: 8px 12px 0px 10px; position: absolute; right: 0; cursor: pointer; } .toggle-items-content-main { display: block; position: relative; top: 27px; left: -204px; border-radius: 12px; background: #FFF; box-shadow: 0px 4px 24px 0px rgba(100, 100, 100, 0.25); width: 435px; height: 115px; } .toggle-items-content { display: flex; align-items: baseline; justify-content: center; padding-top: 22px; } .toggle-items-content .items-content-text .h4-saved-story{ color: #000; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; text-transform: capitalize; margin: 2px 0 10px 6px; } .toggle-items-content .items-content-text .myInc42-plus-dark { width: 100px !important; } .toggle-items-content .items-content-text .myInc42-light { width: 80px !important; } .toggle-items-content .items-content-text img{ height: 22px; } .view-my-feed-btn { width: 100%; text-align: center; display: flex; justify-content: center; } .view-my-feed-btn a { width: auto !important; } .view-my-feed-btn button { border-radius: 4px; background: linear-gradient(180deg, #DA1B4D 0%, #E23026 100%); color: #fff; font-size: 12px; display: inline-block !important; min-width: 162px; width: 162px !important; height: 34px !important; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; padding: 10px; cursor: pointer; } .CustomIconStyled { position: absolute; right: 180px; top: -80px; } .SubDropdownModelShare .sub-arrow-icon { width: 76px; height: 80px; position: relative; overflow: hidden; box-shadow: none; } @media (max-width:767px) { .toggle-items-content .items-content-text .h4-saved-story{ margin: 4px 0 10px 6px; font-size: 18px; } .toggle-items-content { align-items: center; } }

The irony was not lost on many. Around the same time as the internet in India’s national capital Delhi was shut down for several hours amid massive security and incessant protests, SpaceXAI chairman and founder Elon Musk waded into one of his quintessential Twitter feuds with the Indian government over Starlink and its satellite internet services.

This time, his target was not just the Indian government. Musk took on Reliance Jio — and then Mukesh Ambani too — accusing the conglomerate of strong-arming the government into creating a monopoly when it comes to satellite internet or satcom services. He even called Ambani the Prime Minister of India.

“Starlink is licensed in over 165 countries and has spent five years complying with every single law and requirement of the government of India, so why still no license?” Musk posted, asking whether Ambani is the “real boss of India”.

Out came the responses from all quarters of India.

Reliance Industries rejected suggestions that it fears competition, saying it welcomes satellite broadband players, including Starlink, provided they follow Indian laws and policies. Reliance also pointed out that Jio’s satellite services are awaiting........

© Inc42