On the evening of December 17, SpaceX Founder Elon Musk announced that Starlink satellite signals have been disabled over India. This statement came after allegations emerged regarding the use of a Starlink device by militant groups in Manipur. Musk has expressed a strong interest in launching Starlink’s satellite communication service in India and has urged government authorities to ease the licensing process for the company.
Musk’s comments were made in reaction to a post on X (formerly Twitter) by the Spear Corps of the Indian Army. The post included images of various confiscated items from the regions of Churachandpur, Chandel, Imphal East, and Kagpokpi in Manipur. Among displayed weapons such as snipers and automatic rifles, one image depicted a device featuring the Starlink logo.
In response to the claims, Musk asserted, “This is false. Starlink satellite beams are turned off over India.” The company anticipated receiving its license approval from the Indian government back in January of this year; however, as of November 2024, Starlink was still awaiting regulatory clearance. Concurrently, the company has requested the telecom regulator to impose minimal spectrum charges amounting to just 1 percent of its annual revenue. After Donald Trump’s election victory in the U.S., it was believed the company would gain enhanced regulatory support in India.
One user on X reacted to Musk’s post by urging him to address the potential misuse of the technology, while another user called on the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to issue a formal notification to Starlink and confirm its compliance with regulations.
