India Imposes Stringent Regulations on Starlink’s Market Entry

The Indian government has imposed strict conditions for Starlink’s entry, requiring a local control center and specific call-routing protocols to ensure security compliance and operational control during emergencies.

The Indian government has established stringent conditions for Elon Musk’s Starlink to enter the Indian market. One principal requirement is the establishment of a local control center in India. This facility is deemed essential for managing urgent law-and-order situations that may necessitate the immediate suspension of satellite communication services.

A government source emphasized the importance of the local control center by stating, “We cannot be expected to knock on their (Starlink’s) doors or approach their headquarters in the US whenever such an exigency arises.” In compliance with India’s telecom regulations, the central or state governments have the authority to assume temporary control over any telecom service or network during public emergencies or disaster management scenarios.

Additionally, the government has enforced specific interception requirements to secure compliance with security mandates. According to a source, satellite communication companies must avoid transferring calls directly through the satellite network. Instead, they are required to route these calls back to their India gateway and then utilize conventional telecommunication channels, akin to traditional landline or mobile services.

For illustration, when a user in India utilizes a satellite phone to call someone in France, the call is first directed via satellite but does not reach France directly. It instead returns to the company’s India gateway ‘point of presence’ (PoP) before being routed through conventional infrastructure like undersea cables. Starlink representatives are actively engaging with government officials to resolve these security-related issues as they work towards compliance.

In summary, the Indian government has stipulated strict conditions for Starlink’s entry into the country, encompassing the establishment of a local control center and mandated call routing procedures for enhanced security compliance. These regulations underscore the importance of immediate operational control in emergencies while ensuring that satellite communications align with India’s existing telecommunication protocols.

Original Source: m.economictimes.com