Elon Musk has reported that Starlink satellite internet service is presently unavailable in India. This statement follows the recent seizure of two company devices by Indian authorities; one was involved in a conflict zone, and the other in a narcotics trafficking operation.
Starlink is actively pursuing regulatory approval for satellite broadband services within India and is addressing any related security concerns.
On Tuesday, Musk posted on X that "Starlink satellite beams are turned off over India" and clarified that they "were never on in the first place."
His remarks followed an Indian Army social media post detailing a December 13th search operation in Manipur, a northeastern Indian state grappling with sustained inter-communal violence since early 2022. The Army's post included photographs of seized weaponry and a satellite dish/receiver bearing the Starlink logo.
Two military officials, who requested anonymity, indicated that the device displaying the Starlink logo was being utilized by a militant organization. They suggested that the device may have been smuggled across the porous border with Myanmar, a country currently embroiled in civil conflict, where media reports have noted the use of Starlink devices by rebel factions, despite the company's lack of operations in Myanmar.
Earlier this month, Indian police issued a legal request to Starlink for details regarding the purchase of a device discovered during the apprehension of smugglers at sea, who were found with $4.2 billion worth of methamphetamine—one of the largest drug seizures in India to date. Authorities suspect that the smugglers were using the internet device for navigation purposes.
Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia stated on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, that the decision regarding the launch of SpaceX's satellite internet service, Starlink, depends on the recommendations from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), which is currently conducting a consultation process.
The Minister addressed inquiries about the status of Starlink's application to operate in India during a press conference.
Recently, a Starlink executive had a confrontation with Indian telecom representatives during an open house discussion organized by the regulator, where he accused them of making misleading claims about the service owned by Elon Musk.
Following the conclusion of the consultation process and the issuance of TRAI's recommendations, Mr. Scindia indicated that Starlink would be eligible to submit its application. "They must adhere to all the stipulated conditions," he remarked. "It is essential to consider security aspects and ensure that all security concerns are adequately addressed."