Starlink's Status in India

NEW DELHI (Reuters) – Elon Musk announced that Starlink satellite internet is currently inactive in India. This statement follows the recent seizure of two Starlink devices by authorities—one located in an area of armed conflict and the other during a drug smuggling operation.

Starlink is in the process of seeking approval to provide satellite broadband services in India, and Musk's company is working to mitigate potential security concerns related to this approval.

On Tuesday, Musk communicated via X that "Starlink satellite beams are turned off over India" and emphasized that they "were never on in the first place."

This statement came as a response to an Indian Army post detailing a search operation in Manipur state, northern India, which has been experiencing communal unrest since early last year. The post included images of seized weapons as well as a satellite dish and receiver featuring the Starlink logo.

According to two anonymous military officers familiar with the operation, the Starlink device had been utilized by a militant group, with suspicions that it may have been smuggled from the neighboring conflict-affected Myanmar. Reports indicate that Starlink devices are indeed being used by rebel factions in Myanmar, despite the company not operating there.

Earlier this month, Indian police issued a legal demand to Starlink, seeking information regarding the purchase details of a device confiscated during a major drug bust at sea, which involved $4.2 billion worth of methamphetamine, marking one of India’s largest seizures. Authorities suspect that the smugglers might have been using the internet device for navigation.