Bharti Leads Starlink in India Satellite Race, Awaits Clearances
Sunil Mittal rejects Elon Musk's monopoly allegations amid pending space internet approvals.
1Satellite Approval Race
Bharti Enterprises founder Sunil Bharti Mittal stated that his group leads Starlink in India's regulatory approval queue. Speaking at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum, Mittal affirmed that Bharti is prepared to roll out satellite connectivity across the nation as soon as mandatory security clearances are officially granted.
2Rebutting Oligarch Accusations
Mittal directly addressed Elon Musk's previous public comments accusing domestic telecom leaders of operating a monopolistic chokehold over Indian consumers. Rejecting claims that local operators actively blocked Starlink, Mittal clarified that Bharti initiated its formal application process five years ago, well ahead of international competitors seeking entry.
3Longstanding Network Preparation
Bharti's terrestrial ground infrastructure has been operational for three years, while dedicated satellites have been positioned over India for five years. Mittal highlighted that this extensive multi-year groundwork places Bharti ahead of rivals in the domestic licensing pipeline, rather than relying on regulatory protectionism against foreign players.
4Starlink Regulatory Milestones
Elon Musk's Starlink had sought an Indian commercial license starting in 2022. The company secured authorization from the telecom ministry in June 2025, followed by a five-year commercial operations license from IN-SPACe the following month, establishing a competitive framework alongside Bharti's upcoming satellite broadband services.
5Reaching Underserved Markets
Mittal described India's satellite preparations as highly advanced, noting services will target remote regions unreached by terrestrial networks. Drawing on Bharti's operational satellite broadband deployments across Africa with a global partner, he advocated for lower digital and telecom taxes to stimulate broader macroeconomic expansion.
6Urgent AI Oversight
Beyond satellite operations, Mittal urged policymakers to establish preventive artificial intelligence safeguards before systemic incidents occur. With India drafting a regulatory consultation paper, he emphasized that AI capabilities are evolving faster than bureaucratic frameworks, specifically warning against autonomous software agents operating beyond developer constraints.
7Managing Supply Realities
Addressing regional industrial dependencies, Mittal observed that decoupling from Chinese supply chains presents steep structural challenges. Citing a $100 billion bilateral trade deficit, he explained that halving this deficit remains difficult due to domestic industries' continued reliance on cost-effective, high-grade components and manufacturing inputs.
8Strategic Infrastructure Outlook
The race between Bharti and Starlink signals an important transition in India's digital communications infrastructure. With commercial satellite clearances progressing, the impending rollout will test how legacy operators defend domestic market share while navigating international supply constraints and rapid technological transformation across emerging digital ecosystems.