IndiaPosted at: Oct 23 2026 4:55PM


‘Elon Musk is frustrated’: RSS’ economic think-tank lodges strong protest against Starlink with PM Modi, cites national security

New Delhi, Oct 23 (UNI) The Sangh Parivar’s economic think-tank, Swadeshi Jagaran Manch (SJM), Friday castigated Elon Musk’s Starlink, which had applied for a license to launch and operate commercial satellite broadband services in India but has not yet received the same, though its application has not been rejected, for levelling “allegations on Indian businesses and the government indirectly”.
In a memorandum submitted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, titled ‘National Security Paramount: Block Permission to Starlink’, SJM said: “It appears that Starlink is perhaps not prepared to meet those specific requirements (clarifications sought on national security issues). Consequently, it seems Elon Musk is either attempting to secure the license by creating public pressure against the government or is making these statements out of frustration.”
“It’s important to understand that Starlink’s technology poses a serious challenge to meeting India’s regulatory requirements. Starlink utilizes laser-based satellite links to transmit data directly between satellites before it reaches a ground station. The Indian government is examining this system to ensure that data cannot bypass Indian gateways during security-related emergencies. A key regulatory condition is that Starlink must be able to precisely restrict its services at the government’s behest; however, Starlink has not committed to meet this requirement, or its technology may not permit it,” SJM wrote in the memorandum.
SJM raised national security scenarios that could unfold if Starlink were to be granted a licence. “Currently, India is grappling with various law-and-order challenges. In such situations, internet-based social media often fuels rumours and anti-national narratives. Disrupting internet services frequently becomes essential to maintain law and order during instances of separatism, terrorism, riots, protests, and similar events.”
''Further, Starlink satellites can communicate with one another using laser links. India’s concern is that Indian internet traffic could bypass domestic gateways and travel through foreign infrastructure, making lawful monitoring and enforcement more difficult. Government wants Indian traffic routed through gateways within India,” SJM said.
Moreover, it’s feared that satellite internet could be used by hostile actors, smugglers or insurgent groups to communicate beyond conventional telecom networks, the Manch said. ''Unauthorised terminals have been found operating near sensitive borders and conflict zones. Security agencies have even recovered Starlink equipment in several investigations,'' it added.
India has thus far provided broadband and mobile data services using indigenous technology. These services have the distinction of not only being among the cheapest in the world, generally at 17 per cent of what it costs in China, and just 1 per cent of what it costs in the USA; they can be suspended or restricted in affected areas whenever asked for, a guarantee that Starlink’s space-based laser technology perhaps fails to offer.
Apart from this, incumbent telecom operators have been cooperating with the security and investigating agencies, when needed, and their technology is in sync with the national security demands,” SJM national co-convenor Dr Ashwani Mahajan wrote in the memorandum.
“Swadeshi Jagran Manch wishes to put on record that this episode is not the first instance of its kind. Mobile internet technology has undergone continuous improvement and evolution. The progression from 2G to 3G, 4G, and subsequently to 5G technology has consistently enhanced mobile data speeds. Government of India initiated efforts to introduce 5G technology in 2019, although the technology had not yet been fully developed within the country at that time.
''Global competition regarding 5G technology was limited to a few companies, with China’s Huawei being the most price-competitive among them. Swadeshi Jagran Manch then opposed the inclusion of Huawei, due to security concerns. After SJM’s opposition, neither Huawei nor another Chinese firm, ZTE, was granted permission to conduct trials. Meanwhile, Indian companies and scientists, who had been working on developing 5G technology, ultimately developed 5G, popularly known as 5Gi. Today, alongside the existing indigenous 4G technology, 5G technology has already been rolled out in several locations across the country.”
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