New Delhi, October 9, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Friday said India does not permit monopolies in any sector, amid a controversy over satellite communication services and allegations by billionaire Elon Musk that India was applying its regulations in a discriminatory manner.
“There is a lot of conversation about one specific company, but three companies have got satcom licences,” Scindia said while addressing the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026.
The minister said satellite communication providers could begin operations only after fulfilling national security requirements and meeting the prescribed milestones.
Taking a swipe at the Congress after Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi defended Musk on X, Scindia said the party did not know whether it was “going left or right”.
Scindia also highlighted India’s progress in connectivity, artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure. He said the country had 1.1 billion broadband connections, with 5G coverage extending to 99.9 per cent of its districts.
Earlier, Minister of State for Communications Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani said the rollout of satellite communication services was awaiting security clearances from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). He indicated that all satellite communication companies were at a similar stage in the regulatory process.
Speaking on the sidelines of the IMC 2026, Pemmasani said the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) had already issued licences and provisional spectrum-related approvals to satellite communication service providers. However, final operational clearances depended on the completion of security assessments by the MHA.
“Now the issue is pending with MHA for security clearance. As soon as it is cleared, they will get it. It has nothing to do with one company,” Pemmasani said.
The government has also rejected Musk’s allegations of discriminatory treatment, asserting that it follows a fair and non-discriminatory authorisation framework for satellite communication operators seeking to enter the Indian market.
The Ministry of Communications said licences had been granted to three Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) service providers operating non-geostationary satellite networks. It stressed that all licensees were subject to the same regulatory and security compliance requirements.
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