New Delhi: Amid reports of Elon Musk’s company Starlink potentially offering satellite broadband internet services in India, the research organization “Kootniti Foundation” has raised concerns over the company’s close ties with U.S. intelligence and military agencies, suggesting that these connections could pose a risk to national interests. The foundation has termed Starlink a “wolf in sheep’s clothing,” arguing that it is a dual-use technology whose primary customers and promoters are U.S. intelligence and military agencies.
While traditional mobile phone service providers rely on telecom towers for voice and internet services, satellite communications (Satcom) utilize a constellation of satellites to provide service. However, the fact that these satellites are controlled outside the country raises several questions. In a report, the Kootniti Foundation stated, “Starlink’s constellation of satellites represents a new model of internet service providers, one that transcends geographical boundaries and natural borders. It can directly reach every individual worldwide, with no operational framework between the user and the United States.”
Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia stated on Tuesday that Starlink still needs to meet India’s security standards. A license for satellite broadband services in India will only be granted once all regulatory requirements are satisfied. Starlink did not respond to an emailed request for comment on the Kootniti report.
Musk’s space company, SpaceX, is reportedly developing a network of hundreds of spy satellites under a classified contract with a U.S. intelligence agency. The use of Starlink’s satellite links in the Ukraine war led to disputes between the Biden administration and Musk’s company. Recently, Musk openly supported Donald Trump over Kamala Harris of President Biden’s party in the U.S. presidential election.
Musk disclosed last year that he had denied a request from Ukraine to activate his Starlink network for an attack on the Russian fleet. The Kootniti Foundation, citing known contracts between Musk’s companies and U.S. agencies, claimed that there are likely many undisclosed agreements between them as well.
The report further highlighted that Musk’s companies reportedly disregard the sovereignty and democracy of countries like Brazil, Ukraine, and Iran, and described Starlink as a “geopolitical control technology” developed to enable dominance in space, and thereby influence on Earth, for intelligence and defense purposes.