Bharti Enterprises is ahead of Elon Musk's Starlink in India's satellite internet approval process and is ready to launch services once security clearances are granted, Bharti founder and chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal said at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum. Bharti has applied for approvals five years ago and has had satellites positioned over India for the same period, with its ground network ready for three years, according to livemint.com.
Mittal responded to Musk's comments accusing Indian telecom billionaires of blocking Starlink's entry to protect monopolistic interests. He emphasized that Bharti's satellite connectivity plans are more advanced, with the company waiting only on security clearances to begin operations. Starlink has been awaiting a commercial license since 2022, receiving approval from India's telecom ministry in June 2025 and a five-year commercial operations license from IN-SPACe in July 2025, per livemint.com.
The satellite internet market in India is gaining momentum amid growing demand for connectivity in remote areas. Bharti's lead in the approval queue highlights the competitive landscape between established Indian telecom players and global entrants like Starlink. The sector's regulatory environment remains complex, with security clearances playing a critical role in operational timelines. Bharti's readiness contrasts with Starlink's more recent licensing milestones, underscoring the challenges foreign companies face in India's telecom space, according to livemint.com.
Bharti's satellite network has been positioned over India for five years, and its ground infrastructure has been ready for three years, awaiting final security clearances to commence services, Sunil Bharti Mittal said at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum, as reported by livemint.com.