IndiaPosted at: Oct 23 2026 7:28PM


SJM urges Centre to deny Starlink licence, cites national security concerns

New Delhi, Oct 23 (UNI) The Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM) on Friday urged the Centre to deny Elon Musk-owned Starlink permission to launch commercial satellite broadband services in India, alleging that the technology could pose challenges to national security, lawful surveillance and the enforcement of internet restrictions during emergencies.
In a memorandum submitted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi following a demonstration against Starlink at Teen Murti Marg, the organisation said national security must take precedence over the introduction of satellite-based internet services and called for the company's licence application to be blocked.
The memorandum, signed by SJM National Co-Convener Dr Ashwani Mahajan, said the government had sought clarifications from Starlink on security-related issues but the company had not yet received a licence. It alleged that Musk had indirectly criticised Indian businesses and the government instead of addressing the concerns raised by the authorities.
The organisation argued that Starlink's satellite-to-satellite laser links required closer scrutiny to ensure that Indian internet traffic could not bypass domestic gateways and that security agencies could exercise lawful monitoring when required.
It also raised concerns over the government's ability to direct the company to suspend or restrict services in specific areas during incidents involving terrorism, separatism, riots, protests or other law-and-order situations.
“National security must remain paramount,” the memorandum said, arguing that satellite-based connectivity could potentially be exploited by hostile actors, smugglers and insurgent groups to communicate beyond conventional telecommunications networks.
The SJM further claimed that security agencies had recovered Starlink equipment during investigations and that unauthorised terminals had been detected near sensitive borders and conflict zones. It cited developments in Ukraine, Iran, Russia, China and Taiwan, among other countries, to underline its concerns about the strategic implications of satellite internet services.
The organisation maintained that India's existing telecom infrastructure offered significant advantages in terms of affordability, regulatory oversight and cooperation with security agencies. It said conventional mobile internet and broadband services could be suspended or restricted in affected areas when required by the authorities.
The memorandum also drew parallels with India's earlier decisions on the participation of Chinese telecommunications companies in 5G trials. It said SJM had opposed the involvement of Huawei and ZTE on security grounds and argued that domestic technological capabilities should be prioritised.
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