Starlink, Jio & OneWeb: Untangling The Satcom Queue

The “queue” describes the unfinished regulatory process for satellite communications in India. A company can receive a GMPCS licence and an IN-SPACe authorisation, yet still be unable to begin commercial services. Security checks and spectrum assignment remain separate requirements. This matters because licence dates alone do not reveal who is actually closest to launch.

For example, Eutelsat OneWeb received its GMPCS licence in August 2021 and IN-SPACe authorisation in November 2023. Jio received its GMPCS licence in March 2022. Starlink received its GMPCS licence in June 2025 and IN-SPACe authorisation in July 2025. Their technical demonstrations happened at different times.

OneWeb completed its demonstration in January 2025, while Jio completed its security and technical compliance demonstration on March 20, 2025. Starlink’s demonstration took place only in early 2026. The article therefore suggests OneWeb may be ahead, while stressing that pending conditions and timelines must be compared using the same standard.

Satellite internet is internet access delivered through satellites and connected ground infrastructure. It can serve users where ordinary networks are difficult to build or extend. The article places this service within India’s broader satellite communications framework, where companies need regulatory approval before offering commercial services.

GMPCS means Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite. The article defines it as a satellite-based communication system providing voice, data, fax and messaging services directly to portable terminals anywhere on ground. Starlink, Reliance Jio and Eutelsat OneWeb are seeking to provide satellite-based communications under this framework.

The distinction matters because a GMPCS licence is not the final permission to launch commercial service. Operators must also complete security assessments, satisfy attached service conditions and receive spectrum assignment. Starlink says it has built dedicated systems, gateways and other infrastructure in India, but the article notes that its statement does not explicitly confirm that every remaining approval is complete.

India’s process involves several regulatory functions rather than one single approval. The Department of Telecommunications, or DoT, has issued the GMPCS licences and said spectrum assignment will follow after relevant assessments. The Ministry of Communications has defended the framework as fair and non-discriminatory.

IN-SPACe is the authority named for space authorisation. Eutelsat OneWeb received that authorisation in November 2023, while Starlink received it in July 2025. The article separately refers to security assessments and technical compliance demonstrations, but does not identify the specific authority conducting those checks. It therefore cannot support a more precise attribution.

The practical mechanism is sequential. Operators need a GMPCS licence, IN-SPACe authorisation, completed security requirements and spectrum assignment. The article says all three operators have GMPCS licences, while security assessments remain underway. It also says spectrum assignment will follow once the relevant assessments are complete, leaving final responsibilities partly unspecified.

After licensing and space authorisation, two major regulatory steps remain explicit in the article: completing security assessments and receiving spectrum assignment. Operators must also meet conditions attached to their services. This makes the approval timeline more complicated than simply comparing licence dates.

OneWeb received its GMPCS licence in August 2021 and IN-SPACe authorisation in November 2023. Jio received its GMPCS licence in March 2022. Starlink received its GMPCS licence in June 2025 and IN-SPACe authorisation in July 2025. The companies also reached the demonstration stage at different times.

OneWeb conducted its demonstration in January 2025. Jio completed its security and technical compliance demonstration on March 20, 2025. Starlink’s demonstration took place only in early 2026. The article says this could place OneWeb ahead of Starlink and Jio after final assessments, but the dates alone do not prove unequal treatment.

A satellite-internet licence is only one part of the approval process. If security assessment is incomplete, regulators have not finished checking whether the proposed service meets required security conditions. If spectrum has not been assigned, the operator has not received the communications resource needed for authorised service operation.

The DoT said all three operators have received GMPCS licences, but security assessments remain underway. It also said spectrum assignment will follow once the relevant assessments are complete. The article therefore distinguishes a licence from permission to begin commercial services.

In practical terms, the company must wait, even if it has built infrastructure and received other approvals. Starlink said it had built dedicated systems, gateways and other infrastructure in India with government approvals. However, the article notes that Starlink did not explicitly say its security assessment was complete or that spectrum had been assigned. Commercial launch therefore remains dependent on the unfinished steps.

Satellite broadband matters because it can connect users without requiring every connection to depend on nearby mobile towers or fibre lines. Satellites cover broad areas from above, making the technology useful for locations where terrestrial infrastructure is difficult to build or extend. This can support communications in remote or poorly connected places.

The article describes GMPCS as providing voice, data, fax and messaging directly to portable terminals anywhere on ground. That illustrates the central advantage: service can reach terminals through satellite systems rather than relying solely on local ground networks. Starlink says it has built dedicated systems, gateways and other infrastructure in India to serve Indian traffic.

Satellite broadband is therefore better understood as an additional layer, not automatically a replacement for mobile and fibre networks. Its usefulness depends on approvals, security compliance, spectrum assignment and supporting infrastructure. In India, Starlink, Jio and OneWeb are still waiting for the regulatory process to be completed before commercial launch.

Radio spectrum is the set of radio frequencies that wireless systems use to transmit information. Mobile, satellite and other communications services rely on different frequency ranges to send signals. Because usable frequencies are limited and can interfere with one another, access must be organised rather than left unmanaged.

In the article’s process, spectrum assignment is separate from receiving a GMPCS licence. The DoT said all three operators had GMPCS licences, but spectrum assignment would follow after the relevant security assessments. This shows that licensing establishes regulatory eligibility, while spectrum assignment provides the authorised frequency access needed for service.

The distinction explains why a licensed company may still be unable to launch commercially. It must complete security checks and other service conditions before spectrum is assigned. The article does not describe the technical allocation method or specific frequency bands. It does make clear that spectrum assignment is a required stage for Starlink, Jio and OneWeb.