Ukraine’s Starshield disruption highlights the security risks of relying on foreign-controlled satellite communications.

Ukraine’s Starshield disruption highlights the security risks of relying on foreign-controlled satellite communications.

Starlink, OneWeb and Jio remain awaiting final approvals despite holding GMPCS licences.

Starlink, OneWeb and Jio remain awaiting final approvals despite holding GMPCS licences.

Unclear timelines and outstanding regulatory requirements fuel questions over whether India’s satellite internet policy has stalled.

Unclear timelines and outstanding regulatory requirements fuel questions over whether India’s satellite internet policy has stalled.

The Ukraine war has added a new layer to the Starlink controversy in India. This week, Ukrainian officials said speed restrictions of roughly 100 mph on Starshield, SpaceX’s military-focused satellite communications service, disrupted drones and other weapons mid-mission. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticised the restrictions, while Elon Musk said Starshield is controlled by the US government and that any limits are decided by the US military and, ultimately, the president.

Either way, the point for New Delhi is the same. A foreign-controlled satellite network can be restricted or switched off by an authority other than the host country. That makes national security a legitimate concern, and the........

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