Bharti Airtel founder and chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal has said India must retain control over the “kill switch” for satellite communications operating in the country. He warned against depending on a single foreign company or country for critical connectivity as Starlink, OneWeb and Jio prepare to launch satellite broadband services.
New Delhi, November 13 — India must retain control over the “kill switch” of satellite communication networks operating in the country, Bharti Airtel founder and chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal has said, stressing the national-security implications of satellite broadband.
“The kill switch, as we call it, should not be sitting somewhere else. India must have control over its own space destiny,” Mittal said.
His comments come as Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb, Elon Musk’s Starlink and Reliance’s Jio Satellite Communications prepare to compete in India’s satellite broadband market.
What does satellite ‘kill switch’ mean?
The “kill switch” refers to the ability to disable, restrict or throttle satellite connectivity for an individual terminal, a specific region or potentially an entire network.
Mittal argued that India should be able to monitor equipment and communications reaching the ground and ensure that traffic is routed through India.
He said dependence on a foreign-controlled system could create vulnerabilities, particularly during military conflicts or diplomatic tensions.
‘Can’t depend on one company’
Mittal said India should have multiple satellite operators rather than relying on one company or country for critical communications infrastructure.
He highlighted the increasing role of satellites in modern warfare, including their use in drones, cyber operations and guided missiles.
Mittal also cited the Ukraine conflict as an example of how commercial satellite connectivity can become strategically important during warfare.
Starlink, OneWeb and Jio have licences
Three companies — Eutelsat OneWeb, Jio Satellite Communications and Starlink — have secured satellite communication licences in India.
However, obtaining a licence does not automatically allow an operator to begin commercial services.
Spectrum assignment, security compliance and final operational clearances are still required.
Mittal said OneWeb’s ground infrastructure has been ready for three years and its satellites have been over India for five years, but the company is still waiting for the government’s approval to launch commercial services.
Satellite will complement mobile and fibre
Mittal also played down expectations that satellite broadband could replace conventional mobile and fibre networks.
He said satellite systems are expensive, with satellites needing replacement every five or six years.
According to Mittal, fibre, terrestrial wireless networks and satellite connectivity will coexist, with each technology serving different requirements.
Satellite broadband could be particularly useful in remote rural regions, forests, hills, mountains, maritime areas and aviation, where conventional telecom infrastructure can be difficult or uneconomical to deploy.
Mittal’s comments underline the broader debate around satellite broadband in India, where policymakers have to balance competition and investment with national security, data sovereignty and operational control.
