Starlink's India entry: a security risk?

What happened in Ukraine?

When Russia invaded in February 2022, Ukraine's damaged communications left the country needing a way to stay connected. Ukraine's deputy prime minister asked Elon Musk for help, and Starlink terminals quickly arrived. The network became essential: Ukrainian forces used it to share intelligence and coordinate drones, like the Aerorozvidka unit's night operations to track Russian tanks, making Starlink part of Ukraine's military machine.

Can Starlink switch off service mid-battle?

Yes. There is a reported case where SpaceX shut down Starlink mid-operation: midway through a Ukrainian maritime drone attack, the connection was cut before the strike. In 2022, Musk also denied Ukraine's request to extend coverage to Crimea, as it would have violated US sanctions.

What can India do to protect itself if Starlink starts operations?

India can protect itself by keeping Starlink under Indian control. Experts suggest Indian laws must remain supreme, gateways should be run by Indian partners like Reliance Jio, a telecom operator, or Bharti Airtel, another telecom operator, and Starlink must be kept out of defence networks. India is also building its own sovereign satellite constellation with 1,650 satellites, aiming for self-reliance.

Why can Starlink be switched off by someone else?

Starlink's satellites orbit in space, but the company controls the network's software and operations from the US. In Ukraine, SpaceX shut down a connection mid-operation and used geofencing, a tool that disables service in a specific area, to block terminals. India's 29-point directive demands real-time tracking and local control, but a foreign firm retains ultimate authority over its network, making it a potential lever in a crisis.

Does Starlink have permission to operate in India yet?

Not yet. Starlink secured a unified licence from the Department of Telecommunications, India's telecom ministry, in June 2025 and a five-year space-segment authorisation from IN-SPACe, India's space regulator, for its first-generation satellite network. But commercial launch still awaits final spectrum assignment (the allocation of radio frequencies) and a fee framework. A 29-point security directive issued in May requires real-time location tracking, data localisation and border surveillance zones, which could delay the rollout.