On June 10 local time, Bloomberg reported citing sources familiar with the matter that India has actually frozen the approval process required for the commercial launch of Starlink, a satellite internet service operated by American billionaire Elon Musk. This freeze is due to concerns regarding the use of Starlink satellites during the war in Iran.
These anonymous sources said that the security agency under India’s Home Ministry has not yet issued the final permits required to start the “Star Link” service. Although the service has not been approved for operation in Iran, there are reports indicating that “Star Link” devices were used during previous Middle Eastern wars. This has increased concerns in New Delhi—whether India will be able to control this U.S.-headquartered operator in the context of geopolitical tensions.
This setback occurred at a time when SpaceX was preparing to determine the offering price for its possibly the largest initial public offering in history. The company plans to list on NASDAQ on June 12, with a target valuation of $1.75 trillion. As a key revenue driver for the company, Starlink is crucial to this valuation. The delay in approval also highlights a risk that investors may overlook: the company's global expansion process is far from smooth.
The report mentions that currently, Starlink service cannot actually enter this large market in China. And for India, the most populous country in the world and one of the largest markets with underdeveloped broadband services, Starlink still cannot enter at least for now.
“Starlink” satellites – SpaceX website image
Regarding related messages, "Xing Chain" side responded that the company is continuing to communicate with local relevant departments and is committed to launching services in India as soon as possible.
“Xinglian” Business Operations Vice President Lauren Dreyer on the social media X platform stated: “‘Xinglian’ is still in active and productive negotiations with the Indian government. In order to meet the technical sovereignty, regulation and security requirements of India, ‘Xinglian’ has customized deployment models tailored for India, which further demonstrates our commitment to conducting operations within the strategic framework of India.”
According to reports, this current deadlock has also caused a proposal for satellite spectrum pricing to be stalled. Any commercial operation of either Starlink or its local Indian competitor requires the implementation of this proposal. Sources familiar with the matter said that although the Indian Telecommunications Department has finalized the framework, it has not yet submitted it for approval by the federal cabinet.
"StarLink" was granted an Indian "Global Mobile Personal Satellite Communication" (GMPCS) license nearly a year ago, which allowed it to sign agreements and prepare for operations. It was originally expected that this service would be launched months ago. However, obtaining the license is just one step in a more comprehensive regulatory process, and that process has since been delayed.
According to people familiar with the matter, last year, ‘Starlink’ conducted a security demonstration and was reviewed by India's telecommunications regulatory authorities and a specialized security committee. Subsequently, Indian officials raised further questions and required the company to take additional compliance measures.
They stated that, considering its global business layout and American corporate background, it is necessary for 'Starlink' to clearly explain how the company will ensure compliance with Indian safety requirements when foreign governments put forward conflicting demands due to tense geopolitical situations. Until then, its safety approval will remain pending.
Currently, neither the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs nor the Ministry of Communications has responded to comment emails immediately.
In June 2026, the Morgan Stanley Building in New York City, USA, displayed the logo of SpaceX’s initial public offering. IC Photo
Sources familiar with the matter said that such strict censorship of "Starlink" is not an isolated case. After the war in Iran began, Indian officials have taken a more cautious approach towards the entire satellite communication industry.
Indian local operators Reliance Industries Group's Jio Infocomm and Bharti Airtel have also established partnerships with European satellite communication service providers. Currently, their cooperation arrangements are also under stricter scrutiny. However, the Indian side believes that the issues arising from these partnerships are relatively minor.
Bloomberg pointed out that these concerns reflect India's broader reservations about relying on overseas-controlled communication infrastructure, given the increasing geopolitical uncertainties.
According to people familiar with the matter, ‘Star Chain’ has been in communication with the Indian government, submitted relevant statement documents, and emphasized that its technology meets India’s local data storage requirements.
In addition, Starlink has established ground infrastructure in India, including approximately 10 ground gateways, and has a hub station in Mumbai. Sources familiar with the matter said that senior company executives have also met regularly with Indian ministerial officials and government departments to try to expedite the approval process.
However, sources familiar with the matter said that India is still reluctant to give full approval to Starlink until concerns regarding safety are resolved.
