States » SouthPosted at: Oct 17 2026 11:51AM


Starlink’s India entry: Critical infrastructure security must take priority: Expert

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 17 (UNI) India must subject satellite internet services such as Starlink to stringent cybersecurity assessments before allowing their integration into critical infrastructure, industrial cybersecurity specialist K. S. Manoj has said, stressing that national security and technological sovereignty must take precedence over connectivity expansion.
While low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite networks can improve internet access in remote areas and disaster-hit regions, their use in sensitive sectors such as electricity, telecommunications and defence requires robust safeguards, regulatory oversight and clear accountability, he said.
The key question is not whether India should embrace foreign technology, but whether such services can meet the country's security requirements and ensure the uninterrupted functioning of essential infrastructure.
Satellite communication networks can introduce vulnerabilities through software supply chains, remote network management, data processing and dependence on external service providers. Any assessment, therefore, must be based on verifiable security risks and enforceable regulatory obligations rather than assumptions about foreign ownership, Manoj said.
The potential consequences are particularly serious in the electricity sector, where SCADA systems, remote terminal units and other operational technologies monitor and control power generation, transmission and distribution. Inadequately secured satellite links could expose these systems to cyber threats through compromised credentials, vulnerable equipment or poorly controlled remote access.
To minimise such risks, critical infrastructure operators must enforce strict network segmentation, secure authentication, continuous monitoring and tested contingency plans. Safety-critical protection systems should also be designed to function independently of the availability of public internet connectivity, he said.
Manoj called for a transparent, risk-based regulatory framework governing the deployment of satellite communications in sensitive sectors. The framework should mandate independent security assessments, compliance verification, vulnerability management and cooperation with the relevant Indian authorities.
International standards, including IEC 62443 for industrial automation security, IEC 62351 for power-system communications and NIST guidelines for operational technology, could provide a technical foundation for these safeguards alongside India's applicable legal and sectoral requirements.
He also highlighted the need to protect sensitive data and prepare for disruptions arising from cyberattacks, software failures or the withdrawal of services by a provider. Data localisation alone would not ensure security without encryption, access controls, accountability and independent verification.
Critical infrastructure operators should maintain alternative communication arrangements and regularly test recovery procedures to ensure that essential services remain operational during an outage or security incident.
Manoj said regulatory requirements should be proportionate to the nature of each deployment, as the risks associated with household broadband connections differ substantially from those involving communications links to critical control centres.
The broader challenge extends beyond Starlink to the country's approach to emerging technologies. Technological sovereignty does not require India to reject global innovation, but demands the capacity to regulate, secure and sustain technologies on which essential services depend.
India must strike a balance between expanding digital connectivity and preserving strategic autonomy, ensuring that dependence on external technology does not compromise the security, resilience or lawful control of its critical infrastructure, he said.
UNI DS
Tags: #Starlink’s India entry: Critical infrastructure security must take priority: Expert
More News

Voter deletions without explanation raise SIR transparency concerns: Security Expert

17 Oct 2026 | 11:53 AM

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 17 (UNI) Unexplained deletions of names from electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) could undermine public confidence in the electoral process unless adequate safeguards are in place to protect eligible voters, SCADA and Critical Information Infrastructure Security Specialist K. S. Manoj has warned.

see more..

Starlink’s India entry: Critical infrastructure security must take priority: Expert

17 Oct 2026 | 11:51 AM

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 17 (UNI) India must subject satellite internet services such as Starlink to stringent cybersecurity assessments before allowing their integration into critical infrastructure, industrial cybersecurity specialist K. S. Manoj has said, stressing that national security and technological sovereignty must take precedence over connectivity expansion.

see more..

AI agents operating beyond authority pose new cybersecurity threat to India’s critical infrastructure

17 Oct 2026 | 10:27 AM

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 17 (UNI) Autonomous artificial intelligence (AI) agents operating beyond their authorised limits could pose a growing cybersecurity threat to Indian organisations and critical infrastructure, including the power sector, according to industrial cybersecurity specialist K. S. Manoj.

see more..

Cybersecurity governance reform needed; expert calls for review of CERT-In’s control

17 Oct 2026 | 10:22 AM

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 17 (UNI) India should undertake a time-bound review of bringing the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) under the administrative control of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to strengthen coordination between cybersecurity response, national security and criminal investigations, industrial cybersecurity specialist K. S. Manoj has said.

see more..

Kerala CM condemns Centre’s move to drop Indira Gandhi’s name from welfare schemes

17 Oct 2026 | 7:51 AM

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 17 (UNI) Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan has strongly condemned the Centre’s decision to rename welfare schemes named after former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, describing it as a politically motivated move.

see more..