Airtel Chairman Sunil Mittal Counters Elon Musk’s Conspiracy Claim Over Starlink’s India Entry Delay

Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman of Bharti Airtel, has made a counter-comment on Elon Musk’s accusations against some influential business groups in India who have purposely slowed down the Starlink entry in the country. Mittal told NDTV in an interview on November 13, 2026, that it seemed like Musk was annoyed with the regulatory system of the country, and the matter of national security should be prioritized over business interests.

What Did Elon Musk Say About Starlink’s India Entry?

The row started in October 2026 when Musk accused some Indian business associations of delaying the start of Starlink operations to safeguard their market status.

He stated that some businesses had been exercising a monopoly on the Internet market of India in tweets on X. While he did not name any organizations, his comments pointed to Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel that had stakes in satellite communication.

The Indian government dismissed the claims, calling its satellite communication approval process impartial and non-discriminatory.

Sunil Mittal Highlights National Security Concerns

In response to this, Mittal claimed that his firm’s satellite venture, Eutelsat OneWeb, had made an application for regulation five years ago and is similarly waiting for permission to commence its commercial operations.

In relation to this, he explained that the satellite-based internet network poses some issues of national security. As per his view, there needs to be control in hands of the government on the important communication systems and also about kill switch.

Moreover, he highlighted that the ground infrastructure of OneWeb was located in Mehsana, Gujarat and Kochi, Kerala because the earth station works within the regulations of India.

He brought up the issue of inter-satellite linkages where there could be transfer of information between satellites and hence the need of making sure that such links do not escape national security regulations.

Why Is Starlink Waiting for Approval?

Important licences and regulatory approvals have been granted by Starlink in India. Nevertheless, commercial launch necessitates the completion of security evaluations and approvals relating to the spectrum.

Both the Department of Telecommunications and the Ministry of Home Affairs are part of the regulatory process.

The government has insisted that Starlink, Eutelsat OneWeb, and Jio Satellite Communications follow the same security criteria before initiating their services.

What Does This Mean for India’s Satellite Internet Market?

Broadband via satellites could make a difference in the rural parts of India that have poor connectivity through mobile networks.

Starlink, OneWeb and Jio Satcom are the competitors who are vying for space, but their launches can only happen after securing permission from the regulatory authorities.

The discussion brings forth the problem of reconciling the needs of foreign technological investments with those of national security.

For the consumers, the advent of the satellite internet providers would add another option for connectivity. However, the costs and reliability of service would decide its reach into India.

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