India has paused final approvals for Starlink’s commercial launch, adding a geopolitical obstacle to SpaceX’s push into one of the world’s largest broadband markets.
Security agencies under India’s Ministry of Home Affairs have withheld the final clearances Starlink needs to begin operations, according to Bloomberg. The concern is tied to reports that Starlink terminals have been used in Iran, where the satellite internet service is not licensed.
The delay follows months of progress for Starlink in India. The company had received a letter of intent from the Department of Telecommunications and signed partnerships with Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio, two of the country’s largest telecom operators.
Those agreements were expected to help Starlink reach rural and underserved regions, giving SpaceX a path into a market where broadband demand remains large and politically sensitive.
The Iran issue has complicated that rollout. Indian officials are worried about how much control they would have over a US based satellite operator during geopolitical crises, especially if terminals can appear in conflict zones outside formal licensing arrangements.
