Starlink’s India Entry: Strategic Move or Security Risk?

Elon Musk

In a news-making announcement, London-based Bharti Global and Ahmedabad-based Jio Platforms Ltd confirmed that SpaceX’s Starlink has formal business ties with both major Indian telecom players to enter the vast Indian market—a sector with strategic implications. The move raised questions about broader national security concerns.

Before Starlink, India already had one of the world’s cheapest, densest, and fastest internet networks. Its 5G penetration is unmatched. By 2027, internet users in India are expected to exceed 1 billion, with over 90% of households online. India has developed its own telecom standard, 5Gi, to boost remote connectivity. Under BharatNet, nearly 2.64 lakh Gram Panchayat and non-Panchayat villages are being connected with optical fiber. The Bharat 6G Alliance and the government’s Multiplatform Next-Generation Networks Task Force are prioritising research into space-terrestrial integrated networks.

In the U.S., Starlink cannot sideline telecom giants like T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon. In February 2025, T-Mobile and Starlink launched a direct-to-device beta for low-coverage areas. In India, Starlink targets the premium segment with pricier services than BSNL, which is still rolling out 4G. So the question isn’t just about business—it’s why these tie-ups matter.

Telecom hardware autonomy is vital for India, a lesson learned during 5G development when Chinese equipment delays caused setbacks. Now, with Starlink, India risks relying on the U.S. for space integration with its domestic networks. The larger question: why aren't India’s space and telecom sectors collaborating more closely? Where is the spirit of Aatmanirbharta?

For 25 years, India and the U.S. have built strong ties. India modified the foundational military agreements—CISMOA, LEMOA, and BECA—to suit its needs. Notably, the India-specific CISMOA, COMCASA, signed in 2018, is relevant here.

Starlink is a monopoly backed by SpaceX, which uniquely combines satellite and rocket launch capabilities—an edge unmatched even by China or Russia. SpaceX’s dominance earns bipartisan support from the White House and Pentagon. India is now seeking collaboration with this monopoly. While COMCASA is military in scope, it also facilitates high-tech transfers. Starlink’s entry fits this second purpose.

Can India match SpaceX’s launch volume? For now, no. ISRO and New Space India Limited can build only 3–4 PSLVs a year unless more rockets are commissioned. The bar is high—SpaceX’s Falcon 9 had 134 launches in 2024 alone, carrying 22–23 Starlink satellites (about 17–18 tonnes) per launch. Even if Jio and Airtel build their own satellites, forming a full constellation requires frequent, high-capacity launches—something only SpaceX currently offers.

Concerns over Starlink’s entry into India are valid. So far, Starlink has been indirectly involved in gray zone warfare in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, partly due to U.S. government actions. Non-state actors and proxies have used Starlink for geopolitical aims. Black market sales of user terminals remain largely unchecked—one was even found with a secessionist group in Manipur.

Adding to the concerns is Elon Musk himself—a figure even Trump struggles to decipher. Musk has openly expressed his intent to support preferred national leaders via his X platform, echoing regime-change tactics once linked to covert U.S. operations—though he aims to do so publicly. Both Democrats and increasingly uneasy Republicans are growing wary of his overreach.

Indian public life values decency, respect, and decorum. No reputable leader or businessperson wants to hear something like, “Be quiet, small man, there is no substitute for Starlink,” as Musk told Poland’s foreign minister. India’s business and political leaders will tread carefully with someone trying to monopolise social media, telecom, and space—knowing monopolies rarely last.

Airtel still holds stakes in Eutelsat OneWeb, while Jio has partnered with Luxembourg-based SES to build a satellite constellation. Few know that BSNL already offers direct-to-device satellite connectivity via U.S.-based Viasat. Indian satellite firms are securing government contracts to develop domestic constellations. The PSLV is being privatised through a consortium of L&T and HAL. ISRO’s new Small Satellite Launch Vehicle is also up for private manufacturing by Alpha Design, Adani Defence, HAL, and Bharat Dynamics. Within a few years, India will have fully commercialised satellite launch and manufacturing.

More importantly, the case for large constellations like Starlink is weakening globally. Astronomers fear interference with observations, while scientists warn of heavy metal pollution from satellite burnouts. Environmental concerns in Earth’s orbit are growing, with France pushing sustainability talks via the Paris Peace Forum. Smaller constellations will emerge once viable technical and business models are available—and that day isn’t far.

The Jio and Airtel partnership with Starlink is likely temporary and will require geopolitical, political, and business resilience to succeed. Even if it falters, both telecom giants have contingencies. As for the Indian government, it plays like a seasoned centurion—respecting a good delivery and punishing a full toss with Rohit Sharma-style ease. This is one such good delivery from the US.

(The author is a Space and Emerging Technology Fellow at the Centre for Security, Strategy and Technology, Observer Research Foundation, Mumbai.)