Starlink Approval in India Put on Hold: The Indian government has put Starlink's approval to launch services on hold. This decision is being considered a major setback for SpaceX ahead of its IPO.
Starlink Approval in India Put on Hold: Indian Government Puts a Hold on Starlink Approval
Starlink Approval in India Put on Hold: In a major blow to Elon Musk, the Indian government has put Starlink 's approval to launch its services on hold. This means that Starlink will no longer be able to launch commercial operations in India. This move was taken in light of security concerns raised following the use of Starlink's satellite terminals in the Iran war. According to a Bloomberg report, the approval was put on hold following advice from central government security agencies. Let's explore the entire matter.
Preparations to bring Starlink to India were going on for a long time.
Starlink has been planning to launch its satellite internet service in India for quite some time . The company had received a provisional license and completed trials. Discussions were ongoing between the government and the company regarding final approval. Meanwhile, the use of Starlink's satellite terminals during the Iran war has raised the government's concerns. The company does not have a license in Iran, yet there are talks of using its satellite terminals. Now, the government is concerned that controlling this American company may be difficult during a time of geopolitical tension.
Strictness increased after the Iran war
The report states that after the Iran war, the Indian government has begun tightening regulations regarding satellite communications. Domestic companies like Jio and Airtel are also facing stricter scrutiny. Meanwhile, Starlink has been in contact with the government regarding this matter and has submitted an affidavit claiming that it is complying with regulations regarding data storage.
SpaceX suffers setback ahead of IPO
Starlink's parent company, SpaceX, is currently preparing for an IPO. India has dealt the company a major blow by withholding Starlink's approval ahead of its listing on Nasdaq on June 12th. China had previously dealt a blow to Starlink, and now India has also refused to grant approval. This indicates that Starlink's global expansion is still a distant possibility. This setback is particularly significant for SpaceX because Starlink is its largest source of revenue, and its IPO valuation depends heavily on Starlink.
