Elon Musk has expressed frustration over the delay in Starlink's launch in India, calling it a 'crime against the people' on social media. Starlink, SpaceX's satellite internet service, has been awaiting regulatory approvals since November 2022 to operate in India, a market with the second-largest internet user base globally after China, according to livemint.com.
The company began the launch process in late 2022, and the Indian government approved up to 100% foreign direct investment in March 2024, a key step for Starlink. By May 2025, the Department of Telecommunications issued a Letter of Intent for Starlink’s telecom license, followed by a Unified Licence with GMPCS authorization in June 2025. Starlink received provisional spectrum for testing in September 2025 and started equipment and security trials in October 2025, per livemint.com.
Starlink’s entry into India is significant given the country's vast internet user base and the potential to improve connectivity in underserved areas. The delay in final approvals has drawn criticism from Musk, who accused certain 'oligarchs' of blocking the service to maintain monopolistic control over India’s internet market. This situation highlights the challenges faced by foreign tech companies navigating India’s regulatory environment, despite government efforts to liberalize FDI rules.
Starlink’s progress stalled despite completing key regulatory steps and testing phases, with Musk’s comments underscoring ongoing frustrations. The company’s Unified Licence and provisional spectrum allocation remain in place as of October 2025, but full commercial operations have yet to begin, according to livemint.com.