India Defends Satellite Internet Policy as Kamal Haasan Rebuts Elon Musk

New Delhi, 9 Oct – Elon Musk, the owner of SpaceX’s Starlink, posted on X that the service has secured licences in more than 165 countries and has spent five years aligning with every Indian regulation, yet still lacks a licence from the Indian government. He suggested that the real decision‑maker might be Mukesh Ambani.

Responding promptly, actor Kamal Haasan said that no billionaire, irrespective of nationality, should dictate a country's policies. He argued that India must allow competition between Indian and global satellite‑Internet providers to deliver the most practical, affordable last‑mile solution for people living in remote locations.

Haasan warned that if subscription fees and equipment costs are high, the service will remain out of reach for low‑income families, thereby widening the digital divide instead of narrowing it.

He emphasized that India’s telecommunication network and spectrum are strategic assets tied to national security and cannot be compromised for commercial gain. He also highlighted the hypocrisy of Western nations that protect their own industries while advocating free markets, referencing the United States’ 100 % tariff on Chinese EVs and India’s similar protective policies.

Both India and the United States have barred Huawei over security concerns, Haasan noted.

Turning to the BharatNet programme, he pointed out that despite a budget of ₹39,888 crore, only 33.2 % of the gram‑panchayats earmarked for service are actually operational. He praised India’s telecom sector for offering the world’s cheapest data rates.

Concluding, Haasan asserted that India is a democracy, not a colony, and will chart its own future free from Western agendas, double standards, or the influence of any billionaire, Indian or otherwise.