Amazon Leo faces a fresh regulatory process in India after its pending GMPCS application was cancelled following the shift to the new telecom authorisation framework.
Amazon Leo, the satellite internet project formerly known as Project Kuiper, will have to submit a fresh application to secure authorisation for commercial satellite broadband services in India after its pending application under the earlier licensing framework was cancelled.
The development comes as India transitions from the legacy telecom licensing system to the new authorisation regime established under the Telecommunications Act, 2023. The Department of Telecommunications has stopped accepting new applications under the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 and has shifted telecom authorisations to the new framework.
According to government officials and industry executives cited in a report by Mint, Amazon Leo’s application for a Global Mobile Personal Communications by Satellite, or GMPCS, licence was still under process when the new regime took effect. Applications that remained pending under the previous framework have now been cancelled, requiring companies such as Amazon to apply through the new system.
Amazon Leo Faces Fresh Regulatory Process
The requirement to start the application process again adds an administrative hurdle for Amazon at a time when India’s satellite broadband market is moving closer to commercial launches.
The Department of Telecommunications has introduced the Authorisation Rules 2026 to replace the earlier licensing framework. Its new Authorisation Portal is intended to provide a common process for telecom operators and other service providers seeking authorisation under the Telecommunications Act.
For Amazon Leo, the immediate consequence is additional regulatory processing before it can move toward commercial service approval. The requirement does not by itself indicate that the government has rejected Amazon’s satellite broadband plans for India.
Starlink, OneWeb and Jio Remain Ahead
Amazon’s setback comes as other major satellite broadband companies continue progressing through India’s regulatory process.
Starlink, Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio Satellite Communications are among the companies that have obtained GMPCS authorisations, although commercial satellite broadband launches still depend on spectrum assignment and other regulatory and security requirements.
Recent reporting indicates that the Digital Communications Commission has approved a proposed spectrum usage charge framework for satellite communication services, potentially clearing another major hurdle for companies preparing to launch commercial services. Final approvals remain subject to security and other regulatory conditions.
This puts Amazon Leo at a disadvantage in terms of regulatory timing. While its competitors work toward spectrum assignment and commercial deployment, Amazon must first navigate the new authorisation process.
Amazon Leo Looks for Indian Partners
Amazon is also exploring potential partnerships in India as it prepares for its satellite broadband plans.
The company has been looking for Indian telecom and enterprise partners that could support the ground infrastructure and last-mile delivery required for a satellite internet service. Mint reported that Amazon Leo has approached Tata Group-owned Nelco among other potential partners.
Such partnerships could become important because satellite broadband requires more than an orbital constellation. Ground stations, network infrastructure, regulatory compliance and customer-facing distribution will all play a role in determining how quickly a service can be deployed across India.
India’s Satellite Broadband Race Intensifies
Amazon Leo is entering an increasingly competitive Indian satellite broadband market. Starlink, OneWeb and Jio Satellite Communications are already further along in the authorisation process, while the government is simultaneously establishing rules for spectrum assignment and satellite communication services.
The new regulatory framework is designed to replace the older licence-based system with a more standardised authorisation structure. DoT says the new framework is intended to make telecom regulation simpler and more predictable while accommodating newer technologies and market entrants.
For Amazon, the immediate challenge is therefore procedural rather than technological. The company will need to resubmit its application under the new regime and continue building the local partnerships and infrastructure needed to support Amazon Leo’s eventual Indian service.
The fresh application could delay Amazon’s entry compared with rivals already progressing through India’s satellite broadband approval process, making regulatory execution an important factor in the emerging competition for India’s next-generation connectivity market.
