The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) in Kerala has strongly condemned the reported agreements between Indian telecom giants Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel with Elon Musk’s Starlink to introduce satellite-based internet services in India. The party argued that spectrum is a scarce and vital national resource, citing the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in the 2G spectrum case, which emphasized that spectrum allocation to private players must only occur through open, transparent, and competitive auctions to ensure fairness and prevent monopolies. Any backdoor private arrangement, the CPI(M) insists, would constitute a blatant violation of the law, undermining the principles of transparency and accountability in India’s telecom sector.
The party further accused Airtel and Starlink of forming a de facto cartel, aiming to dominate the satellite spectrum market at the expense of millions of Indian telecom users. They warned that such an alliance could lead to price manipulation, reduced competition, and restricted access to essential internet services, particularly for lower-income and rural communities.
Beyond the legal argument, the CPI(M) highlighted critical national security risks. They asserted that satellite spectrum should be exclusively allocated for strategic purposes — including defence, national security, disaster management, and scientific research under ISRO’s purview. The party cautioned that allowing private satellites, particularly those controlled by foreign companies, to occupy vital orbital slots could enable the mapping of India’s natural resources and the extraction of commercially valuable data, such as weather patterns, agricultural yields, and mineral reserves. This, they argued, could jeopardize national interests and empower foreign entities with undue influence over India’s economic and security infrastructure.
The party cited a specific example of US geopolitical maneuvering involving Starlink. They alleged that American pressure on Elon Musk resulted in Starlink restricting services to the Ukrainian military, compelling President Volodymyr Zelensky to negotiate under US terms and reportedly hand over control of significant natural resources. The CPI(M) warned that India could face similar vulnerabilities if a US-based company gained control over essential satellite infrastructure, potentially holding the country’s internet connectivity and data access hostage to foreign interests.
Under the reported agreements, Reliance Jio and Airtel would serve as retail partners for Starlink’s hardware and services. Jio is expected to handle installations, activations, and customer service, while Airtel has expressed intentions to collaborate with SpaceX to distribute Starlink equipment through its retail network, targeting businesses, schools, healthcare facilities, and underserved rural areas. The partnerships aim to provide high-speed satellite internet access to regions with poor terrestrial infrastructure, promising to bridge the digital divide. However, the CPI(M) remains skeptical, suggesting the arrangement is less about connectivity and more about corporate profit and foreign dominance over India’s communication networks.
The opposition seized on the controversy with biting criticism. Tamil Nadu’s Congress Committee took to social media, mocking Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s perceived coziness with Musk and the US establishment. "Is PM Modi secretly practicing his bend-and-snap routine for Elon Musk and the US establishment? Is this the ultimate 'Make in India' moment, or just 'Sell to America' in disguise?" the committee posted on X (formerly Twitter), highlighting the irony of foreign companies profiting under a government that promotes self-reliance.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also voiced strong objections, accusing the Modi government of orchestrating the deal to curry favor with former US President Donald Trump through Elon Musk. He posed pointed questions about sovereignty and control: "Who will have the power to switch connectivity on or off when national security demands it? Will it be Starlink or its Indian partners? Will other satellite-based connectivity providers also be permitted, and on what basis? Or is this a backroom deal to hand Starlink a monopoly?"
This growing controversy underscores the delicate balance between technological advancement, foreign collaboration, national sovereignty, and corporate influence. While the promise of expanded satellite internet services, particularly in rural and underserved regions, is undeniably attractive, the CPI(M) and opposition parties argue that such progress must not come at the cost of legal integrity, national security, or economic self-sufficiency. The battle over India’s digital skies is only beginning — and its outcome may reshape the nation’s telecom landscape for decades to come.
