Airtel takes dig at Musk, says it is ahead of Starlink in India approval queue

Bharti Enterprises chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal has taken a dig at Elon Musk's Starlink, saying Airtel applied for approval years before the billionaire's satellite internet venture and has been waiting for the government to give it the go-ahead.Speaking at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum, Mittal said Bharti Airtel's satellite internet venture had its ground infrastructure ready and satellites positioned for India, but was still waiting for the necessary permissions. He also suggested that Airtel should receive approval before Starlink."We are all awaiting our approvals. I am significantly ahead of him in the queue. I applied five years back. I have had my ground network ready for the last three years. My satellites have been hovering over India for the last five years. We don't have the permission. So, we will be very happy to get it at least a few days before him," Mittal said.#WATCH | Delhi | Bloomberg New Economy Forum | Over Elon Musk's tweet on Starlink, Bharti Enterprises Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal says, "We are all awaiting our approvals. I am significantly ahead of him in the queue. I applied five years back. I have had my ground network ready for the last three years. My satellites have been hovering over India for the last five years. We don't have the permission. So, we will be very happy to get it at least a few days before him." (Source: Bloomberg New Economy Forum via ANI)— ANI (@ANI) October 14, 2026His remarks come amid a growing dispute between Musk and India's telecom industry over Starlink's delayed entry into the country. The SpaceX-owned satellite internet company has been trying to establish its services in India for years, but is yet to receive all the clearances required to begin commercial operations. Why is Elon Musk questioning India's approval process?The latest exchange follows Musk's criticism of what he described as powerful business interests trying to restrict Starlink's entry into India. The billionaire subsequently singled out Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani, asking on X whether he was the "real boss of India".Musk's comments came as Starlink continued to wait for final security clearances and spectrum allocation. Starlink applied for its Global Mobile Personal Communications by Satellite (GMPCS) licence in India in November 2022. India's Ministry of Communications has rejected suggestions that the approval process favours domestic players. It said Starlink, Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio Satellite Communications were at broadly similar stages, with all three awaiting security clearances and spectrum allocation before launching commercial services.The ministry described allegations that the regulatory framework was unfair or discriminatory as baseless and misconceived.The dispute has also drawn attention to the competition building in India's satellite internet market. Airtel and Reliance Jio are preparing their own satellite connectivity offerings, putting them in competition with Starlink for a market where millions of people still lack reliable internet access.Airtel and Jio are preparing their satellite internet plansAirtel's parent company, Bharti Enterprises, has been pursuing satellite connectivity through Eutelsat OneWeb. Mittal's latest comments suggest that the company believes its preparations and earlier application should count in its favour as it awaits regulatory approval.Reliance Jio, meanwhile, is developing its own satellite communication technology. Speaking to ANI on the sidelines of the India Mobile Congress 2026, Jio chairman Akash Ambani said the company was working on advanced communication technologies, including AI-enabled voice and data services, satellite connectivity and 6G."What we're also showing is the progress that we're making on satellite technologies and what we can prove to be an indigenous satellite stack based out of India," Ambani said.Interestingly, the competition does not rule out partnerships. In March 2025, both Airtel and Jio signed agreements with SpaceX to distribute Starlink equipment and services in India, subject to government approval. The companies also said they could explore opportunities to share network infrastructure.Starlink says its satellite network can deliver high-speed internet to areas where conventional broadband and mobile infrastructure are difficult to deploy. However, its eventual reach in India will also depend on pricing, with affordability remaining a key concern for a price-sensitive market.- Ends