SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on Wednesday said that Starlink’s satellite beams are turned off over India, rejecting claims that the satellite internet service was used by “militants”.
His remarks came amid claims that security forces had recovered Starlink terminals from insurgent groups operating near the Myanmar border in Manipur.
Musk had also accused unnamed rivals of blocking the Starlink satellite broadband network in India, apparently referring to billionaire Mukesh Ambani and Sunil Bharti Mittal.
In response to the delay, the government said that demonstrating compliance with security norms is an absolute requirement for every satcom licensee in the country.
In a statement Thursday, the Ministry of Communications said its regulatory framework for satellite communications is “fair and non-discriminatory”, and that all three companies licensed to provide services are at broadly the same stage of the approval process.
Starlink is SpaceX’s satellite broadband service.
Key things Elon Musk said about Starlink’s satellite operations in India
Starlink beams are turned off over India
Musk’s latest comments came after claims that security forces had recovered Starlink terminals from insurgent groups operating near the Myanmar border in Manipur.
Musk posted on X: “Starlink beams are turned off over India, so the claim that they were used by anyone for any reason is absolutely false.”
Musk was responding to a post by X account DogeDesigner, which was itself replying to another X post claiming that security forces in India had recovered Starlink terminals from insurgent groups operating on the Myanmar border near Manipur.
DodgeDesigner argued that these claims of militants using Starlink in India “make no sense” because Starlink satellite beams are turned off over the country. According to the post, no Starlink device could connect in India while the satellite beams were turned off, and Musk himself had confirmed this.
Elon Musk accuses ‘certain oligarchs’ of blocking Starlink
Musk has also spoken about the delays facing Starlink’s commercial launch in India.
Responding to a post outlining why India needs Starlink, Musk wrote: “Unfortunately, we (Starlink) are being blocked by certain oligarchs in order to maintain their monopolistic chokehold on the Indian people.”
“You can guess who they are … This is a crime against the people of India,” Musk added.
Elon Musk backs Starlink’s India case
The DogeDesigner post that prompted Musk’s remarks listed several reasons why India could benefit from Starlink.
“India needs Starlink. 11,256 of India’s listed villages still lacked 4G coverage as of May 2026. India had 1.093 billion internet subscriptions in March 2026, but only 440.87 million were rural. Rural subscription density was 48.31 per 100 people, compared with 126.80 in urban India… Only 4.26% of India’s internet subscriptions were wired connections in March 2026. Starlink could give underserved communities another route to high-speed broadband,” the post read.
It said Starlink’s satellite network could bring high-speed internet to remote villages, mountains and islands where extending fibre or mobile networks is difficult. Better connectivity could help rural schools access online learning, clinics offer remote consultations, and small businesses reach more customers, it added.
“Portable Starlink terminals have supported disaster response around the world. They could give Indian emergency teams backup connectivity when floods, earthquakes or storms damage ground networks. Direct to Cell could also help ordinary 4G phones connect beyond tower coverage, subject to Indian approvals and mobile operator partnerships. The government itself identifies difficult terrain, low commercial viability and infrastructure constraints as reasons for remaining coverage gaps. This is exactly where Starlink could help India reach more people. India should complete the remaining clearances and spectrum allocation so Starlink can begin commercial service,” the post read.