India's government is closely examining Starlink, the satellite internet service from Elon Musk’s SpaceX. According to a Business Standard report citing informed sources, it has asked for detailed information about its planned activities in Pakistan and Bangladesh. This increased scrutiny follows a severe downturn in India-Pakistan ties after a recent terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Kashmir. In response, India imposed several strict measures on Pakistan, including cancelling the Indus Waters Treaty, shutting the Attari border crossing, and more. Pakistan hit back by closing its airspace to Indian flights and stopping bilateral trade.

Amid rising tensions, the Indian government has grown increasingly worried about Starlink’s regional activities. A senior Department of Telecommunications (DoT) official told Business Standard, “There are still certain security concerns. For a company to provide communication services in India, a large number of technical complications need to be met.” 

One key issue is that Starlink received only provisional approval from Pakistan’s space authority last month. According to the report, the Pakistani government has openly expressed optimism that the service will start by the end of 2025. Meanwhile, Bangladesh granted Starlink the necessary licences this week, paving the way for an earlier rollout. Even though Starlink has faced regulatory delays in India since November 2022, it has recently gained momentum. Last month, the company signed distribution partnerships with major telecom firms Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, which are essential steps toward its official entry into India’s satellite communication market.

Despite some progress, regulators remain cautious. Starlink has agreed to store user data within India and to limit its satellite services to permitted Indian areas. Still, according to the report, it has not yet accepted more stringent requirements like establishing buffer zones near borders or allowing real-time monitoring. Government officials told Business Standard that recent questions posed to Starlink are part of the standard national security clearance process and that they are unlikely to hold up the review of its application.

In a recent interview with PTI, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said India is open to all satellite broadband companies, pointing to the approvals granted to OneWeb and Jio Satellite Communications as proof of fair competition. 

Last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Elon Musk during his visit to the U.S., and the two had a follow-up phone conversation last week. Musk has now announced plans to visit India later this year. Additionally, Musk’s electric vehicle company, Tesla, is considering entering the Indian market.