Bharti Airtel Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal said Eutelsat OneWeb is significantly ahead of Elon Musk’s Starlink in the queue to launch satellite internet services in India, as both companies await final regulatory clearances for commercial operations.
New Delhi, October 14 — Bharti Airtel Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal said satellite communications venture Eutelsat OneWeb is “significantly ahead” of Starlink in the queue to begin commercial satellite broadband services in India.
Speaking at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum 2026, Mittal said OneWeb had applied for approvals around five years ago and had been waiting for permission to start services despite having its ground infrastructure ready for about three years. He added that OneWeb’s satellites have been positioned over India for around five years.
His remarks come amid a public dispute over regulatory approvals and competition in India’s satellite internet market.
Elon Musk recently alleged that powerful business interests were blocking Starlink’s entry into India. However, the Ministry of Communications rejected the allegations, describing claims of unfair or discriminatory treatment as baseless and misconceived.
The government has said all satellite operators must comply with the same framework, including security requirements and spectrum allocation rules, before beginning commercial services.
Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said three companies — Starlink, Reliance Jio Satcom and Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb — have already secured satellite communications licences. However, a licence alone does not permit commercial launch. Operators must also receive spectrum and fulfil prescribed security conditions.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India and Department of Telecommunications are also working on the framework for satellite spectrum pricing, including a revenue-based charging mechanism.
Reliance is developing its own satellite plans as well, including a proposed constellation of around 1,600 low-earth-orbit satellites aimed at extending internet connectivity to roughly 600,000 villages.
The development sets up intensifying competition in India’s satellite broadband market, where OneWeb, Starlink and Jio Satcom are all positioning themselves for commercial rollout once final approvals are in place.
