Manipur: Elon Musk Denies Starlink Internet Use by Insurgents Amid India Licensing Dispute
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has denied claims that insurgent groups in Northeast India are using Starlink satellite internet to bypass government-imposed internet shutdowns, stating that the company’s satellite beams remain inactive over India.
The controversy emerged after security forces reportedly recovered Starlink equipment from an insurgent group in Manipur, raising concerns about the possible use of satellite communications in the conflict-affected region. Musk and X account DogeDesigner maintained that possessing a Starlink terminal does not necessarily mean it can access the internet where satellite coverage is disabled.
However, The Guardian, citing sources in Manipur Police and the insurgent People’s Liberation Army of Manipur, reported that the devices were allegedly used to access the internet during shutdowns. The terminals may have been smuggled into Manipur from neighbouring Myanmar, where Starlink services are reportedly operational. These claims have not been independently verified.
The controversy comes amid a broader dispute over SpaceX’s efforts to enter India’s telecommunications market. Musk has alleged that domestic telecom interests are attempting to obstruct the company’s entry, while the Indian government has rejected claims of corporate interference in its regulatory process.
Separately, the Indian Coast Guard reportedly seized a Starlink device from a vessel suspected of involvement in drug smuggling near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
At the India Mobile Congress, SpaceX executive Lauren Dreyer said the company had established 20 local gateway sites and developed security measures to ensure that user data remains within India.
The Department of Telecommunications has granted initial satellite communication licences to Starlink, Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, but further operational approvals and security clearances remain necessary.
The key questions remain whether the equipment recovered in Manipur could provide internet connectivity within India and whether SpaceX will obtain the remaining approvals to launch its commercial satellite internet services in the country.
