Centre tells satcom firms to meet security norms amid Musk's Starlink row

NEW DELHI: Communications minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Friday said satellite communication (satcom) companies can begin operations in India only after individually meeting the required security conditions and milestones, stressing that three companies have received licences despite the focus on Elon Musk’s Starlink. He also took a dig at Congress for their response to Musk's statements.“There is a lot of conversation about one specific company, but three companies have got satcom licences,” Scindia said, underlining that each operator must fulfil the required conditions before it can start services.Scindia’s remarks come amid a row between Musk and the Indian government over the delay in Starlink’s commercial launch in the country. The SpaceX chief had alleged that “certain oligarchs” were blocking the company to protect their “monopolistic chokehold” on the Indian market, without initially naming anyone.The government rejected the allegation, describing India’s regulatory framework for satellite communication services as “fair and non-discriminatory”.