Starlink, Jio, and OneWeb Face Delays Over Satcom Security Clearances

9 Oct 2026, 8:00 am · 3h ago · 1 min read · Inc42New

Satellite communications operators Starlink, Reliance Jio, and Eutelsat OneWeb are facing launch delays in India as they await mandatory security clearances from the Ministry of Home Affairs. Although the Department of Telecommunications has issued licenses and provisional spectrum, commercial rollouts remain stalled. Meanwhile, SpaceX founder Elon Musk accused unnamed oligarchs of attempting to block Starlink, a claim the communications ministry strongly denied while maintaining that all licensed players face identical scrutiny. The government remains cautious about potential security vulnerabilities, data localisation compliance, and encryption protocols as operators invest heavily in ground gateway networks across the country.