Bharti Enterprises chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal has said the group’s satellite venture, Eutelsat OneWeb, is ahead of Starlink in the queue for final approvals to launch satellite communication services in India. Speaking at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum on 14 October, Mittal said OneWeb had applied for clearances around five years ago and had its ground infrastructure ready for three years.
Mittal’s comments come as Elon Musk’s Starlink continues to await final security clearance for its Indian commercial launch. The dispute has brought renewed attention to the approval process for satellite broadband, including security requirements, spectrum assignment and competition among operators.
However, Mittal’s statement reflects his assessment of OneWeb’s position. It does not mean that the company has received all the permissions required to start commercial services, or that Starlink has been formally placed behind it by the government.
What Sunil Mittal said about OneWeb and Starlink
At the forum, Mittal said Bharti’s satellite venture was significantly ahead of Starlink in the approval queue because it had applied several years earlier. He added that the company had prepared its ground network and had satellites positioned to serve India, but was still waiting for the necessary permissions.
Mittal said he would be happy if the company received approval a few days before Starlink. His remarks followed Musk’s recent allegations that powerful Indian business interests were obstructing Starlink’s entry into the country to protect their market positions.
The comments highlight the competitive tensions around satellite broadband in India. But the order in which applications were submitted is not, by itself, confirmation of the order in which the government will grant final clearances.
Government says security assessments are still underway
The Ministry of Communications has said that security assessments for the relevant satellite communication operators are underway and that the companies are at broadly the same regulatory stage. It has rejected allegations that India’s satellite communications framework is discriminatory, saying all operators must comply with the applicable security conditions.
The government’s clarification is important because satellite operators need to meet multiple requirements before they can launch services. Holding a satellite communication licence or obtaining authorisation for a satellite constellation does not necessarily mean an operator has completed every step required for commercial service.
Starlink has received key licences and regulatory authorisations, including approval from the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre for its satellite constellation. However, final security clearance and the subsequent spectrum-assignment process remain critical steps before commercial operations can begin.
OneWeb and Jio Satellite Communications have also secured relevant licences, but they too must complete the applicable requirements. The government’s stated position therefore differs from Mittal’s assessment that OneWeb is ahead in the queue.
How Airtel is connected to OneWeb
Bharti Airtel is part of the wider Bharti group, whose satellite communications interests include Eutelsat OneWeb. OneWeb operates a low Earth orbit satellite constellation intended to provide connectivity for enterprise, government, mobility and other customers.
The distinction matters because Airtel’s mobile services and OneWeb’s satellite services are not the same business. OneWeb’s India launch will depend on the satellite operator completing the required approvals and establishing the conditions needed to offer services commercially.
Satellite broadband could complement mobile and fibre networks, particularly in remote locations where terrestrial infrastructure is difficult or costly to deploy. It may also support connectivity for enterprises, infrastructure operators and public-sector organisations that need coverage beyond conventional networks.
Starlink, backed by SpaceX, is pursuing its own satellite broadband service in India. Jio Satellite Communications, a subsidiary of Jio Platforms, is another participant in the market. The eventual competitive landscape will depend on regulatory approvals, service coverage, equipment availability, pricing and the needs of different customer groups.
Why the approval process matters for India’s satellite internet market
The main regulatory questions include how operators meet security requirements, how satellite spectrum is assigned and charged for, and how services are monitored under Indian rules. Authorities have also focused on requirements designed to ensure that operators comply with applicable controls over networks, user data and service operations.
These requirements can affect launch timelines and the commercial structure of satellite services. For consumers and businesses, the practical questions will be when services become available, where coverage will be offered, what user terminals will cost and how satellite broadband will compare with fibre and mobile connectivity.
Mittal’s comments add to the public debate, but they do not establish a confirmed launch date for OneWeb or Starlink. Until the government completes the relevant assessments and operators fulfil the remaining requirements, neither company’s commercial launch should be treated as approved.
For now, the clearest takeaway is that OneWeb is seeking to secure its remaining permissions while Starlink awaits its own final clearances. The Ministry of Communications’ statement that the operators remain at broadly the same regulatory stage is the key context for interpreting the competing claims.
