India freezes Starlink entry over Iran-linked security concerns

The immediate consequence is a total impasse in the Indian satellite broadband sector, as the lack of spectrum pricing prevents both foreign and domestic entrants from launching commercial services. This highlights the growing friction between borderless satellite hardware and sovereign security demands, particularly regarding intercept and data control. For SpaceX, the timing is precarious; losing access to India’s 1.4 billion people weakens the growth narrative for its Starlink division, which currently drives roughly 60% of total company revenue. Watch for the Union Cabinet’s decision on satellite spectrum pricing as a signal of whether the government will allow local players like Jio to proceed without Starlink.

The Indian government’s move to freeze Starlink’s clearance appears part of a broader tightening of controls over critical communications infrastructure. Per The Economic Times (March 2026), the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) recently diverged from recommendations by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), opting for a 5% Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) usage fee instead of the suggested 4%. This simplified fee structure was designed for easier auditability but has drawn criticism for creating higher entry barriers for non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) players like Starlink and Amazon’s Project Kuiper.

In May 2026, the DoT issued 29 additional regulations specifically for satellite operators, per Communicationstoday (June 2026). These rules mandate that all network user data and call logs must be stored on Indian soil and requires operators to maintain real-time interception capabilities for security agencies. Starlink has confirmed it is developing a “bespoke deployment model for India” to meet these requirements, though the recent security freeze suggests that local storage alone is no longer sufficient to appease the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Adding pressure to the timeline is the pending SpaceX IPO. According to filings reported by The Guardian (June 2026), SpaceX is aiming for a $1.77 trillion valuation for its Nasdaq debut on June 12, under the ticker SPCX. Analysts from Morningstar noted that Starlink's profitability is essential to justifying this valuation, but regulatory exclusion from markets like China and India creates significant downside risk. Meanwhile, competitors are shifting strategies; Amazon’s Project Kuiper, now branded as Amazon Leo, recently applied for licenses with a pitch to provide infrastructure backhaul for public Wi-Fi rather than direct consumer broadband, per reports in June 2026.