Rahul Gandhi backs Musk’s Starlink project:Says, ‘Wait until you know the other person’; government rejects Musk’s claims

Amid the Starlink controversy, Rahul Gandhi told Elon Musk, “Elon, welcome to India. Wait until you learn about the other man.” Responding to Rahul’s post, Musk said, “Thank you, Rahul. This is really concerning.” Earlier, Musk had said that Starlink had received licences in more than 165 countries and that the company had been complying with all the Indian government’s laws and conditions for the past five years. He had asked why Starlink had still not received a licence in India despite this. Meanwhile, the Indian government said on 8 October that the rules set for satellite communication services in the country were the same for everyone. It said it was completely incorrect to claim that the rules were being enforced to discriminate against anyone. Musk had alleged discrimination Earlier, on 7 October, Elon Musk accused some of India’s biggest businessmen of trying to block Starlink in the country. In a post on X, Musk wrote, “Some of India’s biggest businessmen do not want Starlink’s satellite internet to come to India so that their monopoly can continue. You can guess who they are…” Musk also wrote in the post that this was a crime against the people of India. Musk did not name any company or industrialist, but his post has sparked a debate among Indian telecom companies. Musk’s remarks are being seen as a reference to Indian telecom and business groups that are opposing satellite internet companies or demanding strict conditions over spectrum allocation rules and security concerns. The government said in its statement that the security review process for all three companies is currently under way. As soon as a company’s security clearance is completed, it can move on to the next step and seek spectrum allocation. At present, all three companies are at the same stage of the regulatory process. 20 stations and hundreds of antennas deployed across the country Starlink has built 20 gateway sites across the country. These gateways are ground-based stations that connect Starlink’s satellites in space to the main internet network on the ground. Hundreds of antennas have been installed at these sites to ensure that internet signals can be transferred without interruption. Deal with Jio and Airtel, letters of intent signed with 3 states Starlink has already signed preliminary memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel to roll out its network across India on a large scale. In addition, the company has signed letters of intent with the governments of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Meghalaya to provide services locally. Key facts about Starlink in 5 questions and answers… Question 1: What is Starlink and why is it special? Answer: Starlink is a project by SpaceX that provides high-speed internet through satellites. Its satellites orbit close to Earth, allowing the internet to run faster and more smoothly. It is especially useful in areas such as villages and mountainous regions, where conventional internet services do not reach. Question 2: Why did it take so long for Starlink to get a licence? Answer: Starlink had been trying since 2022, but the process was delayed because of security concerns. The Indian government had imposed conditions related to data security and call interception. Starlink accepted these conditions. Services are now set to begin. Question 3: How will ordinary people benefit? Answer: Starlink will bring the internet to villages and remote areas, boosting online education, telemedicine and businesses. Increased competition in the telecom market could also lead to cheaper and better plans. Question 4: Why is India important to Musk? Answer: India is the world’s second-largest internet market. This licence is a major achievement for Musk, especially as tensions between him and Donald Trump are continuing in the United States. This puts SpaceX’s contracts at risk. Question 5: How will the internet reach you through satellites? Answer: A satellite makes it possible to beam internet coverage to any part of the Earth. The satellite network provides users with high-speed, low-latency internet coverage. Latency refers to the time it takes to transfer data from one point to another. The Starlink kit includes a Starlink dish, a Wi-Fi router, power supply cables and a mounting tripod. The dish must be placed under an unobstructed sky for high-speed internet. Starlink has an app for iOS and Android that handles everything from setup to monitoring.