Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Friday asserted that India does not permit monopolies in any sector, dismissing allegations of regulatory bias surrounding satellite communication (satcom) services and recent comments by Elon Musk.
Speaking at the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026, Scindia clarified that three companies have received Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) licenses. He emphasised that all operators must satisfy mandatory national security requirements and operational milestones before commencing services.
Taking a political jab at Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi for defending Musk on social media, Scindia remarked that the Congress party seemed uncertain whether it was “going left or right.”
Minister of State for Communications Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani confirmed that while provisional spectrum-related approvals and licenses have been granted by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), final operational clearances are currently pending security assessments by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
Reiterating that all licensees are subject to identical regulatory standards, the Ministry of Communications rejected claims that regulations were being applied in a discriminatory manner. The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to a transparent and non-discriminatory authorisation framework for non-geostationary satellite network operators.
Highlighting India’s digital momentum, Scindia noted that the nation now boasts 1.1 billion broadband connections, with 5G coverage reaching 99.9 per cent of its districts.
