‘Give connectivity to America’s poor first’: Nishikant Dubey slams Elon Musk, says Starlink poses security threat | Today’s news
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey on Sunday attacked SpaceX CEO Elon Musk over Starlink’s proposed entry into India’s satellite communications market, asking him to first provide affordable internet connectivity to poor people in the United States. Dubey also raised concerns about the security implications of satellite internet service, arguing that India would not change its security policy under pressure.
In a post on X, Dubey said a parliamentary committee had looked into the challenges Starlink could pose to India’s security agencies. He added that the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Home Affairs and investigative agencies have expressed concern about potential threats.
“As Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee, our Committee has understood the challenges facing the country’s security agencies through @elonmusk’s Starlink. The Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Home Affairs and our investigative agencies are affected by the dangerous games with these threats,” Dubey wrote.
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Dubey said Starlink could pose a challenge to India’s security agencies, arguing that national security should come before commercial interests. He said that India will not change its security policy under pressure.
According to Dubey, the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Home Affairs and investigative agencies have raised concerns about potential security threats. He also said similar concerns were recorded in 2013-14.
The government said security assessments of all three licensed satellite communications providers were underway. Once the assessment is complete, the provider can apply for spectrum allocation; the department said the three entities are essentially at the same regulatory stage.
Musk says Starlink will increase competition and give Indian consumers more broadband options. He also argued that the service would need affordable pricing to attract customers in India.
Musk argues that another provider could give consumers more options and benefit the average citizen. He admitted that competition could reduce the profits of existing companies, but at the same time it would not necessarily stop them.
Referring to the previous UPA government, the BJP MP said that concerns regarding such threats were not new and had been recorded more than a decade ago.
“In 2013-14, the Manmohan Singhji government informed @TRAI about these threats,” he said.
“India does not change its security policy under pressure”
Dubey argued that national security would take precedence over commercial considerations and noted that India would not compromise its policies to facilitate the entry of a foreign company.
“First provide connectivity to the poor in your own country America at affordable rates and then level the charges; India is a healthy democratic sovereign nation; it does not change its security policy under pressure or social media,” he added.
Read also | Why is Elon Musk’s Starlink at war with Indian telecom giants?
He further stated that if commercial interests were the deciding factor, the government could have welcomed Starlink despite the objections of security agencies.
“If our politics were driven by money, we would roll out the red carpet of welcome for you despite the opposition of the security agencies. Aren’t you giving even more support to political parties from America to Britain?” he further added.
Why is Elon Musk pushing for Starlink to enter India?
Dubey’s remarks came amid ongoing debate over the proposed commercial launch of Starlink in India, with Musk arguing that the company’s entry would increase competition and give consumers more choices in the broadband market.
On Saturday (local time), Musk criticized the arguments against Starlink’s entry, arguing that India’s broadband business is dominated by a monopoly and that some online users are holding back existing players.
“The ridiculous arguments of Ambani’s army of Internet shills make no sense. On the one hand, they say that Starlink cannot compete with the amazingly low prices offered by Ambani’s de facto monopoly in India, and then in the same breath basically claim that Starlink would be too strong a competitor! This is absurd hypocrisy and hyperbole,” Musk wrote on X.
Read also | Venezuela allows Musk’s Starlink to operate in the country
He admitted that the arrival of another service provider could affect the profits of existing companies, but argued that it would not necessarily threaten their business.
“Obviously, if Starlink is too expensive in India, no one will buy it, so SpaceX will have to open up the prices,” he added.
Read also | Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia addressed Starlink row
The latest remarks followed an earlier post in which Musk sarcastically took aim at arguments against Starlink’s proposed entry in seeking permission to operate in India.
What did the government say about Starlink’s entry?
Meanwhile, the communications ministry has rejected suggestions that India’s regulatory framework for satellite communications services favors certain companies over others.
“The government has implemented a fair and non-discriminatory authorization framework for all telecommunication services, including satellite communication services. As part of this, telecommunication licenses have been granted to three Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite services based on non-geosynchronous satellite communication based on satellites in orbit as part of its commitment to enable provision of satellite communication services in India,” the ministry said in a statement issued on August 8.
She clarified that security assessments of all three licensees are currently underway.
“Once this process is completed for the licensed entity, it can proceed to the next step of seeking spectrum allocation. Currently, all three entities are roughly at the same regulatory stage. As such, the suggestion that the framework or its application is unfair or discriminatory is baseless and erroneous,” the ministry added.
