IMC 2026: Awaiting approvals for Eutelsat OneWeb, says Sunil Mittal

Bharti Enterprises Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal said on Thursday that his satellite communications venture Eutelsat OneWeb is waiting for regulatory approvals.

“We’re waiting for our own approvals,” Mittal said on the sidelines of the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026.

OneWeb, Elon Musk-led Starlink and Reliance Jio’s Jio Satcom have received licences to provide satellite communication services in India. However, the companies still require security clearances and spectrum assignment before beginning commercial operations. Musk had alleged earlier this week in a post on X that Starlink was being "blocked" in India.

The telecom ministry has said the framework is “fair and non-discriminatory” and called suggestions of selective treatment “baseless and misconceived”. It said security assessment was under way for all three licensees, after which spectrum assignment can proceed for commercial services. Mittal said OneWeb’s services could begin “hopefully soon” once the remaining approvals are secured.

“The Department of Telecom has issued licences to all satcom companies as well as provisional spectrum. 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,” Minister of State for Communications Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani said on the sidelines of IMC.

Mittal backs Jio IPO, seeks global telecom framework

Asked about rival Reliance Jio’s proposed initial public offering, Mittal said he was looking forward to the listing. “We’re all looking forward to a huge, successful IPO,” he said.

On telecom manufacturing, Mittal called for a global framework modelled on aviation, with common standards and technologies. “The message is very clear. I was a part of the GSMA delegation. We spoke at length and looked to the whole world to create an international framework on the lines of what the aviation industry has—common standards, common technologies. That is a very good way of moving forward,” he said.

Mittal added that as technology develops, more domestic manufacturers could become part of the ecosystem of network providers that Airtel may add to its networks.

With inputs from PTI.