Starlink Gets DoT's Approval, Report Says US Pushed Countries Facing Tariffs to Accept Musk's Company

New Delhi: Elon Musk’s Starlink has received a letter from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to offer its services in India.

The DoT issued the approval after Starlink agreed to meet the new national security guidelines of Government of India (GOI), reported The Economic Times.

Meanwhile, even as Starlink got an approval from the Union government to offer its services in India, the Washington Post cited State Department Cables to report that United States has pushed some nations which are facing the tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump to approve Starlink owned by billionaire Elon Musk, a close aide of Trump.

While sources said that the company’s application had been under review for some time, the final approval came after it committed to the revised security norms issued earlier this week.

India's new security rules for satellite internet providers make it mandatory for service providers to ensure that data remains within Indian borders. They are also barred from linking user connections to any overseas terminals or facilities.

According to the ET report, during consultations, Starlink had expressed reluctance on two points: the requirement to monitor terminals near international borders along with the suggestion of a mandatory Indian majority shareholding in satcom companies.

As per sources, the government eventually dropped both requirements.