Parliamentary IT Panel To Examine Satellite Internet Amid Starlink Row

A Parliamentary panel has selected satellite internet as one of the key subjects for a threadbare examination in the coming days, amid the ongoing row over Elon Musk's remarks on the delay in the government's approval of his company Starlink to launch the service in India.

The parliamentary review comes at a crucial juncture as India's satellite communication framework undergoes regulatory scrutiny over security compliance, local data hosting, and spectrum allocation, PTI reported. BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, who is the chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology, said the panel has selected satellite internet as one of the subjects for close examination. Bharti Ahead of Elon Musk's Starlink in India Satellite Approval Queue, Says Sunil Mittal.

Three Key Players Vying for Indian Satcom Market

Musk's Starlink, along with Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio Satellite, have applied for permission to start satellite internet service in the country.

The market has drawn significant domestic and global telecom players:

• Jio Satellite: Jio Satcom is Reliance Jio's satellite venture, aiming to expand its pan-India broadband and 5G network through space-based connectivity.

• Eutelsat OneWeb: Backed by Bharti, which runs the pan-India mobile and internet network Airtel, operating a constellation of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites.

• Starlink: Operated by Musk's aerospace venture SpaceX, seeking regulatory clearances to beam satellite broadband across rural and remote regions.

Security and Regulatory Scrutiny Under Focus

The committee's decision to undertake a detailed examination follows public exchanges over regulatory timelines and security assessments. While commercial operators emphasize consumer choice and bridging connectivity deficits in underserved border and rural areas, government agencies have maintained that security architecture, lawful interception standards, and regulatory parity must be thoroughly evaluated before granting commercial clearances.

The standing committee is expected to invite representatives from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), the Ministry of Home Affairs, security agencies, and industry stakeholders to review national security safeguards and policy requirements governing satellite communication services.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 14, 2026 06:43 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).