FSMK, advocates for Free Software and Free Knowledge, vehemently condemn the Indian government’s opaque approval of Starlink’s satellite communications services. This decision made without public consultation, parliamentary scrutiny, or disclosure of critical terms jeopardizes national security, enables corporate monopoly, and surrenders India’s digital sovereignty to foreign interests.

Grave Risks to India’s Security and Sovereignty

National Security Under Siege

Starlink’s parent company, SpaceX, holds more than billion USD worth US. military contracts (including the Starshield program for spy satellites) and is legally bound to share data with US. intelligence under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). This grants the US. government unrestricted access to Indian users’ metadata and communications, bypassing Indian oversight.

Digital Colonization

Starlink’s control over low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites—comprising over half of all LEO satellites globally—allows unilateral service shutdowns. In Ukraine and Gaza, the US. weaponized Starlink to advance geopolitical demands. India’s reliance risks foreign blackmail during crises.

Systemic Failures in Governance

Zero Transparency: Approval documents, spectrum allocation terms, and security protocols remain hidden from public review. The Department of Telecommunications ignored TRAI’s recommendation for competitive auctions, favoring Starlink with administrative spectrum assignment.

Regulatory Capture: The decision followed Elon Musk’s meeting with Prime Minister Modi, suggesting corporate lobbying overruled national interest.

Inadequate Safeguards: Mandated “local control centers” for call interception exist only on paper, with no verification mechanism. Traffic routing through foreign gateways persists.

Economic Sabotage and Monopoly

Market Domination: Starlink’s first-mover advantage—granted alongside only two other licensees (OneWeb and Jio)—threatens to crush domestic ISPs and startups. With potential earnings of $34 billion annually from just 10% of India’s market, profits will flee India, starving local innovation.

Digital Divide Deepened: Starlink’s high costs (₹15,000–97,000 for hardware) will exclude rural Indians, contradicting the “Digital India” mission. Local alternatives like BharatNet remain underfunded.

Our Demands

  • Immediate Publication of all approval documents, license terms, and security assessments.

  • Parliamentary Audit by a multi-party committee to investigate regulatory breaches.

  • Moratorium on Commercial Rollout until competitive spectrum allocation and antitrust safeguards (e.g., price caps, infrastructure sharing) are enacted.

Data Sovereignty Guarantees: All user data must be stored and processed exclusively on Indian soil, with zero foreign backups.

Support for Domestic Alternatives: Prioritize spectrum allocation and funding for India’s public sector institutes like ISRO/CDOT.

The Stakes

Satellite internet is critical for bridging India’s digital divide—but surrendering control to a foreign entity with military ties is an act of national betrayal. The government’s secretive deal sacrifices security, sovereignty, and fair competition at the altar of corporate appeasement. We call on all citizens, lawmakers, and industry stakeholders to reject this dangerous accord and demand a transparent, self-reliant digital future.