Ensuring that data used by Starlink is stored and accessed only within India, with full control over its usage resting with New Delhi, is the core minimum essential to mitigate these security concerns.
NEW DELHI: India’s two biggest telecom operators and business rivals, Reliance Jio and Airtel have announced that they have reached an agreement to bring the Starlink-based internet to India. On its part, Starlink website has put India under “pending regulatory approval”. Also in this list are Pakistan and Bangladesh.
These developments have raised concerns that allowing it to operate in India—its largest potential market—without strict regulation and adequate oversight would bring serious security and strategic risks, which could unravel at an opportune time.
Ensuring that data used by Starlink is stored and accessed only within India, with full control over its usage resting with New Delhi, is the core minimum essential to mitigate these security concerns.
It is expected that once Starlink gains a foothold in India, it will be looking at lucrative government contracts, most of which are located in sensitive areas and regions.
Recognising these concerns, Government of India has indicated that Starlink will have to comply with stringent security and regulatory measures before being allowed to operate in the country. Officials have emphasized that Starlink must meet national security standards, which will be second to none, with oversight on its usage to prevent unauthorized access or misuse.
After the change of power in Washington in January, the deepening ties between Elon Musk’s SpaceX and the U.S. government have become increasingly evident, with recent policy shifts signalling a clear alignment of interests between the White House and Musk.
Two major policy related developments by the new Trump administration—one in the defence sector and another in broadband policy—suggest that Washington may be working closely with Musk’s ventures but perhaps shaping regulations in ways that may benefit him.
In the defence sector, SpaceX has emerged as a critical player proposing a next-generation missile defence system informally referred to as the “Golden Dome,” which would leverage satellite technology and space-based interceptors to strengthen U.S. defence capabilities.
This move is in direct response to a recent executive order requiring the Pentagon to develop an advanced missile defence shield. While multiple companies are pitching solutions, a consortium featuring SpaceX stands out as a frontrunner, positioning Musk’s firm to secure a key role in America’s future military infrastructure.
SpaceX, already deeply involved in US satellite communications and military contracts, appears set to expand its footprint further.
Parallel to this defence push, a major broadband policy shift too is also being executed, one that could bring billions into SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service.
The Trump administration, official sources said, is reversing an old rule for fibre-optic internet in a $42.45 billion broadband expansion initiative, opting instead for a “tech-neutral” approach. This shift effectively removes obstacles that previously prioritized wired infrastructure over satellite-based alternatives like Starlink. As a result, Starlink could receive anywhere from $10 billion to $20 billion under the new rules.
Recently, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick framed the decision as a necessary course correction, accusing the previous administration of imposing regulatory burdens that stalled broadband deployment. Among the rules being scrapped are requirements for low-cost broadband options, labour protections, and climate impact assessments—policies that critics argue were designed to make the program more equitable but are now being discarded in favour of rapid rollout.
While the official justification revolves around efficiency and deregulation, the practical consequence is clear: a possible a windfall for Starlink and other non-fibre providers.
Sources said that taken together, these developments suggest a broader pattern.
SpaceX, already the dominant force in commercial spaceflight, is now cementing itself as a cornerstone of both U.S. military strategy and domestic infrastructure policy. Whether by securing defence contracts for missile defence or benefiting from a regulatory overhaul in broadband funding, Musk’s ventures are increasingly intertwined with Washington’s priorities.
The extent to which this relationship is driven by pragmatic necessity versus political favouritism remains an open question, officials said. Critics allege that the U.S. government is actively shaping policies in ways that directly bolster Musk’s expanding empire.
These developments, officials say, need to be critically factored in by policymakers in India before laying down the proverbial red carpet.
“Who ultimately controls it? Starlink’s entanglement with U.S. national security interests suggests that Washington may have more control over the system than it appears. Deeper analysis makes it clear that Washington holds significant influence over the network. SpaceX operates Starlink under Federal Communications Commission (FCC) licences, meaning the government has the legal authority to modify or revoke those permissions if it deems Starlink a national security risk. More than that, SpaceX is increasingly tied to military operations, securing contracts with the Pentagon and even being considered for a next-generation missile defence shield. These close ties give the government leverage, whether in the form of funding, regulatory control, or classified agreements that may not be publicly disclosed,” an official said.
According to him, the system itself is built in a way that allows central control over access. “SpaceX has already demonstrated its ability to selectively disable Starlink in certain regions, as seen in Ukraine when Musk refused to allow its use for offensive drone strikes in Crimea. If SpaceX has the power to do this, it raises the question of whether the U.S. government—through legal or covert means—has similar capabilities. National security measures could theoretically force SpaceX to comply with a shutdown request, whether through the Defence Production Act, military contracts, or other behind-the-scenes pressure.”
The data related to Starlink user base shows why the company would like to operate on its own terms.
As of December 2024, it reported over 4.6 million global subscribers, with revenues surpassing USD 2 billion in 2023. Regionally, North America leads with approximately 2.6 million subscribers, followed by Europe with 493,000, Asia with 488,000, Oceania with 317,000, South America with 316,000, Africa with 260,000, and Central America with 130,000 subscribers as of December 2024. The total comes to around 46 lakh.
The potential business opportunity for Musk in India becomes clear when one considers that as of January 2025, India had approximately 806 million internet users (80.6 crore), representing 55.3% of the population. Projections indicate that this number is expected to surpass 900 million by the end of 2025.
It’s notable that only about 2% of Starlink users reside in non-Western countries, indicating a significant concentration of its user base in Western nations
Observers argue that Starlink’s operation in India is too strategically significant to be controlled solely by one billionaire. They point to historical precedents, such as the 1999 Kargil War, when the U.S. denied satellite access to the Indian military, resulting in increased fatalities at the hands of Pakistani intruders. Given this history, they caution that if a crisis arose where the U.S. sought to assert control over Starlink, it is unlikely that Elon Musk would be able to resist such pressure.
With Starlink expected to expand at a rapid pace, the list of unintended consequences and misuse cases of this system are coming out more and more in open.
The Sunday Guardian sent a detailed questionnaire to the company for a response on various issues. However, no reply was provided till the set deadline.
One of the most high-profile cases of Starlink’s use or misuse in a conflict zone occurred in Ukraine. Initially deployed to help Ukrainian forces maintain communication amid Russian cyberattacks and infrastructure destruction, the service soon became entangled in controversy.
Reports emerged that Russian forces had acquired Starlink terminals through smuggling and black markets, using them in occupied territories despite SpaceX’s official stance of restricting access. While SpaceX swiftly moved to deactivate unauthorized terminals, the situation highlighted how difficult it is to control a system designed for global access.
Similarly, during the 2022 protests in Iran, the government shut down internet access in an attempt to suppress dissent. However, activists smuggled in Starlink terminals to keep communications online, a move praised by supporters of free speech but one that also underscored the risks of foreign-controlled internet access operating outside national oversight. Musk himself had announced that he will be activating Starlink to cover Iran.
Starlink’s ability to function in remote and remote regions has also attracted criminal organizations. In Mexico and Colombia, drug cartels have been using Starlink to coordinate trafficking operations, replacing traditional satellite phones with high-speed internet that is harder for authorities to intercept. Law enforcement agencies have seized Starlink terminals during cartel raids, confirming their role in criminal networks.
Similarly, maritime piracy operations in the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia have been found using Starlink to maintain real-time communication, complicating efforts to track and disrupt their activities.
The black market trade of Starlink terminals has become another growing concern, officials pointed out. In countries where Starlink is not officially available, such as Venezuela and certain parts of Africa, and India’s neighbour, terminals have been smuggled in and sold at inflated prices. Some users have exploited loopholes in Starlink’s roaming features to access the service despite restrictions, bypassing both government regulations and SpaceX’s own geofencing policies.
Even in the corporate world, Starlink has been linked to cases of industrial espionage. In one instance, a European energy company reported that a competitor had secretly deployed Starlink terminals in a remote area to establish an independent communication network, enabling unauthorized surveillance of rival operations.
In mid-2024, reports emerged that criminal organizations running scam compounds in Myanmar, Cambodia, and Thailand were using Starlink to maintain their illegal operations. Victims of human trafficking, forced into online scams, revealed that