Elon Musk’s Starlink has said it is ready to provide high-speed internet services in India. The satellite internet company said it has spent more than five years working with Indian regulators, industry stakeholders and telecom operators. It also highlighted that it has built dedicated infrastructure within India to support its services.
The statement came after Reliance Industries said it welcomes competition in satellite communications, including from Starlink, but stressed that every company must comply with Indian laws and regulatory requirements.
Starlink says India network is ready
In a post on X responding to Reliance’s statement, Starlink said it had worked with Indian regulators, industry and operators for more than five years. “We have worked closely with regulators, industry and operators in India for 5+ years,” Starlink said, adding that it had built dedicated systems, gateways and other infrastructure in the country.
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The company said the infrastructure was designed to serve Indian traffic securely and had been developed with the required government approvals. It then made its position clear: “Starlink is ready to connect India with high-speed internet.”
However, Starlink’s statement did not give a specific commercial launch date. It also did not clarify whether all remaining regulatory and security requirements needed before commercial operations have been completed. Reports indicate that the company still needs to go through the regulatory process applicable to satellite communication services in India.
Reliance says it does not fear Starlink competition
Reliance Industries issued its own statement after Musk criticised the Indian telecom and satellite communications landscape and suggested that powerful business interests were standing in Starlink’s way.
The company rejected the suggestion that it was opposed to Starlink entering the Indian market. “At Reliance, we have never feared competition,” the company said, describing competition as “the truest test of who serves the customer best”.
Reliance also said it welcomed competition in satellite communications, including from Starlink. At the same time, it stressed that all operators, including Jio, must comply with Indian laws and policies.
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The company pointed to Jio’s entry into India’s telecom market in 2016 as an example of its approach to competition. Reliance said Jio entered the market without any customers and had since grown to more than 530 million customers while helping drive down the cost of data and expand digital connectivity.
Why Starlink and Reliance are at odds
The dispute comes as India prepares for greater competition in satellite internet services. Starlink, Reliance-backed Jio and Bharti Enterprises-backed Eutelsat OneWeb are among the companies seeking to establish satellite connectivity services in the country. Their services could be particularly important in areas where traditional broadband and mobile networks are difficult or expensive to deploy.
Starlink uses low-Earth-orbit satellites to provide internet connectivity and has positioned the technology as a way to reach remote and underserved locations.
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But obtaining a licence is not necessarily the final step before commercial services can begin. Operators must also meet India’s security and regulatory requirements, while spectrum allocation and other approvals remain important parts of the process.
Indrani Priyadarshini is a journalist and editorial professional specialising in technology, artificial intelligence, smart cities, green energy, and digital transformation. With over four years of experience in tech journalism and digital media, she is known for turning complex industry developments into clear, engaging, and insightful stories. Her expertise spans reporting, editorial strategy, digital publishing workflows, and in-depth coverage of emerging technologies shaping the future.
