Satcom licensees can launch only after individual security clearance, says Scindia at IMC 2026

Starlink, Reliance Jio’s satellite arm and Eutelsat OneWeb all hold licences to offer satellite internet in India. Still, none can start until two more decisions are made, Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on October 9 at the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026 in New Delhi. “As and when they individually fulfil security conditions, then they can start operations,” Scindia said at the press conference.

Scindia shared no timeline for either decision. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) recommended in May 2025 that satcom operators pay 4% of their adjusted gross revenue as spectrum charges. 17 months later, Scindia said TRAI and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) were ‘close to taking the final decision’. “The fact that TRAI makes a recommendation doesn’t mean that the announcement is made the next day,” he added.

Security clearance rests with the home ministry

Scindia said the security call is not DoT’s to make. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has to state that a company has shown compliance with the security requirements, “and that is a decision that will be taken by them,” he said. Asked about reports that foreign satellite operators’ documents mention defence payloads, Scindia said the MHA was looking into it.

Scindia also identified Amazon’s Project Kuiper as a fourth applicant seeking a licence. He said it would have to follow the same process. Spectrum will be assigned administratively rather than auctioned, a choice he said he explained “at great length” when he took charge of the ministry in 2024.

A reply to Musk, and to the Congress

The press conference followed SpaceX CEO Elon Musk’s allegation that ‘certain oligarchs’ were blocking Starlink in India, as reported by ThePrint, and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s response to Musk’s post. “India does not allow a monopoly in any sector,” Scindia said. “There is a lot of conversation about a particular party. But there are three parties that have got license.”

The Congress, Scindia said, had first objected to a licence being granted and was now asking why it had not been. “I don’t think they themselves know whether they’re going left or right,” he said.

Sanchar Saathi’s numbers

Scindia said the Sanchar Saathi app had been recorded 300 million times, following “the whole issue that had come up”. That issue was DoT’s November 28, 2025 order directing phone makers to pre-install the app, which the government withdrew on December 3 after a privacy backlash. At the time, the government put downloads at 14 million.

Scindia called the figure a testament to “Jan Bhagidari”, or public participation. He also said, “close to 7 crore phones have been disconnected, which are suspected of fraud”.

What we have asked DoT and MHA

MediaNama has written to DoT and MHA with the following questions and will update this copy when they respond.

To DoT:

• When DoT expects to finalise satcom spectrum pricing, given TRAI’s recommendation of May 2025
• Which security conditions and milestones each satcom licensee must meet before launch, and whether these will be published
• How the 300 million Sanchar Saathi downloads are counted, and how many are active users

To MHA:

• What criteria MHA applies when assessing a satcom licensee’s security compliance, and within what time frame
• Whether any of the three licensees has been cleared so far

Also read:

• Jio plans 1,600 satellites as Musk attacks Ambani over Starlink delays
• Elon Musk accuses ‘monopolistic oligarchs’ of blocking the launch of Starlink in India
• Why Starlink reapplied for its India satellite network, and why it’s still stuck