New Delhi, Oct 2026 : Bharti Enterprises founder and Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal on Wednesday said Eutelsat OneWeb should receive regulatory approvals for satellite broadband services in India ahead of Elon Musk-led Starlink, arguing that his company had entered the approval process nearly five years ago.
Speaking during a panel discussion at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum 2026 in New Delhi, Mittal said OneWeb had completed significant preparations for launching commercial services but was still awaiting the necessary permissions from Indian authorities.
He said the company's ground network infrastructure had been ready for three years, while its satellites had been positioned over India for approximately five years.
“As I have already said, we are awaiting our approvals. I believe we are significantly ahead of him in the queue because we applied five years ago,” Mittal said, referring to Starlink.
He added that OneWeb would welcome regulatory clearance even a few days before its competitor, given the time it had spent awaiting approval.
“Our ground networks have been ready for the past three years, and our satellites have been hovering over India for the past five years. We still do not have the necessary permission, so we would be very happy to receive it, even a few days before him,” he said.
Satellite Broadband Approval Debate Intensifies
Mittal's remarks come amid an intensifying debate over the entry of Starlink into India's satellite communications market. Over the past week, Musk used social media platform X to allege that certain Indian businesses were attempting to obstruct the company's plans to launch satellite broadband services in the country.
The allegations brought renewed attention to the regulatory process governing satellite communications operators seeking to enter the Indian market.
However, the Indian government has rejected suggestions that any company is receiving preferential treatment or facing discrimination in the approval process.
Responding to the controversy, the Ministry of Communications said satellite communication operators were being assessed under a fair and non-discriminatory regulatory framework.
“At present, all the three entities are at broadly the same regulatory stage. As such, the suggestion that the framework or its application is unfair or discriminatory is baseless and misconceived,” the ministry had said.
The government's position contrasts with Mittal's argument that OneWeb's earlier application and extensive preparations should be taken into account when considering the timing of regulatory clearances.
OneWeb's India Plans
Eutelsat OneWeb India, legally registered as OneWeb India Communications Private Limited, is preparing to introduce commercial satellite broadband services in India using a constellation of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites.
LEO satellite systems can provide connectivity to areas where conventional terrestrial networks are difficult or expensive to deploy. Such services have potential applications in remote communities, businesses, maritime operations and other locations requiring reliable connectivity.
OneWeb is part of the Eutelsat Group, created through the combination of France-based Eutelsat and the UK-backed OneWeb. Bharti Enterprises is a major shareholder in the merged group, making it an important stakeholder in OneWeb's Indian operations.
The company has invested in the infrastructure required to support its planned services and is awaiting the regulatory clearances needed to begin commercial operations in India.
Competition in India's Satellite Internet Market
The developments highlight growing competition in India's emerging satellite broadband market, where global operators are seeking access to a large and diverse customer base.
For service providers, the ability to obtain regulatory approvals and begin operations will be critical to translating investments in satellites and ground infrastructure into commercial services.
Mittal's comments underline OneWeb's expectation that its earlier application should be reflected in the approval timeline. The government, meanwhile, has maintained that operators are being assessed under a common regulatory framework.
The timing of the necessary clearances will determine when OneWeb and other satellite communications companies can expand their commercial presence in India.
As the debate continues, regulatory transparency, a level playing field and the timely processing of applications are likely to remain central issues in the development of the country's satellite broadband sector.
(Disclaimer :The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
