Overview
- On Tuesday, October 20, 2026, officials and people familiar with discussions said the government is actively considering a hardware device that would route all satellite internet traffic from foreign operators through a government‑controlled checkpoint.
- Regulators stress that holding a GMPCS licence does not allow commercial service and that Starlink, Reliance Jio Satellite Communications and Eutelsat OneWeb must complete security assessments and satisfy infrastructure conditions before spectrum or sales are approved.
- Officials told reporters that Starlink’s reluctance to meet India’s rules on domestic infrastructure and security checks is delaying its authorisation, while the Ministry of Communications denied any preferential treatment between operators.
- The device is still under design and could be placed at subscriber sites or at ground stations, with public sector research units likely to lead development and limited private participation possible; technical specs, installation rules and a timeline remain unsettled.
- The move reflects wider worries about relying on foreign low‑Earth‑orbit networks after complaints in countries including Ukraine, Iran and South Africa and could shape how India balances national security, commercial access and its own planned LEO capacity.