Bharti Airtel Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal has said his satellite communications venture, Eutelsat OneWeb, is significantly ahead of Elon Musk's Starlink in India's approval process, arguing that the company applied for a licence five years ago.
Speaking at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum 2026 on Wednesday, Mittal said OneWeb's ground infrastructure had been ready for three years, while its satellites had been positioned to serve India for around five years. However, the company is still awaiting permission to begin commercial services.
Responding to a question about Starlink's entry into India's satellite internet market, Mittal said he hoped OneWeb would receive the necessary approval before Musk's company.
Mittal's comments come amid a controversy erupted due to Musk's repeated comment on regulatory framework for satellite internet services in India.
On X, Musk recently alleged that certain powerful Indian oligarch's were trying to prevent Starlink's entry into the Indian market to maintain a “monopolistic chokehold” on consumers.
The Ministry of Communications denied the allegation, arguing that India's regulatory framework or its implementation was unfair or discriminatory as baseless and misconceived.
Musk subsequently questioned whether Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani was the “real boss of India”, intensifying the exchange over competition and market access.
The dispute arises as satellite broadband providers seek to expand services in India, where satellite connectivity could help serve remote areas and locations with limited terrestrial telecom infrastructure.
Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has said India does not permit monopolies in any sector and that consumers should be free to choose their preferred service provider.
Department of Telecommunications follows a technology-neutral approach and aims to make a range of services available to consumers, Scindia said at recently held India Mobile Congress in Delhi.
He outlined three companies (Elon Musk's Starlink, Reliance Jio's satellite venture Jio Satcom and Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb) too have secured satellite communications licences:.
Amazon's Project Kuiper has expressed interest in entering the market but will need to complete the established regulatory process.
Scindia highlighted Spectrum allocation, the applicable charging framework and compliance with individual security requirements are important steps before receiving a licence.
The government is nearing a decision on the pricing framework for satellite communications spectrum, Scindia said, indicating that the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and the Department of Telecommunications are close to finalising the process.
The spectrum pricing regime is a key issue for satellite internet providers because it will influence the commercial conditions under which they can offer services in India.
Once the government determines the applicable charges and assigns spectrum, licensed companies must also satisfy the relevant security requirements before launching operations.
The timing of these decisions will be crucial for OneWeb and Starlink as they seek to establish their positions in India's emerging satellite broadband market.