RSS affiliate SJM urges Centre to deny Starlink permission to roll out satellite broadband services in India

RSS affiliate Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM) has waded into the Starlink’s India-access-debate that was triggered by its founder Elon Musk through messages on his social media channel X.  

The organisation has condemned the statements made by Musk and said “it’s unfortunate that instead of responding to clarifications sought from his company, on national security grounds, Musk has chosen to make allegations on Indian businesses and the government indirectly”.

In a statement, Ashwani Mahajan, national co-convener, SJM has urged the government to block the permission to Starlink to rollout its commercial satellite broadband services. “SJM is of the firm belief that blocking Starlink would send a message to trade partners like the US: if they have the audacity to arbitrarily restrict Indian imports—such as handicraft products—by imposing high tariffs in the name of national security, then India is certainly within its rights to block Starlink based on its genuine national security concerns”, he said.

The issue revolves around ‘Starlink’, which had applied for a license to launch and operate commercial satellite broadband services in India but has not yet received the same (though the application has not been rejected either).

According to Mahajan, Starlink's technology poses a serious challenge to meeting India's regulatory requirements. “Starlink utilizes laser-based satellite links to transmit data directly between satellites before it reaches a ground station. The Indian government is examining this system to ensure that data cannot bypass Indian gateways during security-related emergencies. A key regulatory condition is that Starlink must be able to precisely restrict its services at the government's behest; however, Starlink has not committed to meet this requirement, or its technology may not permit it”, he says.

SJM statement also say that since Starlink satellites can communicate with one another using laser links, Indian internet traffic could bypass domestic gateways and travel through foreign infrastructure, making lawful monitoring and enforcement more difficult. Government wants Indian traffic routed through gateways within India.

“Apprehension of SJM about the security risks, attached with Starlink are based on experiences of Ukraine, Iran, Russia, China, Taiwan, South Africa, Brazil, Venezuela, Sudan and many others. Most prominent case studies for a national security analysis are Ukraine, Iran, Russia, China and Taiwan”, Mahajan said.