We’ll be very happy to get it at least a few days

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The Economic Times daily newspaper is available online now. Read Today's Paper ‘We’ll be very happy to get it at least a few days before him’: Sunil Bharti Mittal on Musk’s Starlink satellite internet approval in IndiaET OnlineLast Updated: Oct 14, 2026, 05:52:00 PM ISTSynopsis

Sunil Bharti Mittal stated that he applied for satellite service approvals in India five years ago. His ground network has been ready for the last three years, waiting for final approvals. Mittal highlighted the importance of regulatory clearances for expanding connectivity beyond traditional mobile networks. Bharti Airtel is also investing in digital infrastructure, data centers, and sovereign cloud services.

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Loading...×Sunil Bharti Mittal, chairman of Bharti Enterprises, said he was ahead of Elon Musk’s Starlink in the queue for satellite services approvals in India, adding that his company had been waiting for clearances despite having its ground network ready for three years.

“We are all awaiting our approvals. I think I am significantly ahead in the queue from him. I applied five years back. I have my ground network ready for the last three years. My satellites have been hovering over India for the last five years,” Mittal said at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum 2026.

Also Read: 'Don't worry': Piyush Goyal sends a message to the world on India-US ties

“We don’t have the permission, so we’ll be very happy to get it at least a few days before him,” he added.

Mittal’s remarks underline the regulatory hurdles facing satellite internet services in India, where approvals are crucial for companies seeking to expand connectivity beyond traditional mobile networks.

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He said India was at an advanced stage of developing its space sector, with final security clearances awaited. Once these were in place, satellite services could help connect every part of the country.

Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb has also partnered with companies to launch satellite services in Africa, he said.

Data centres, cloud emerge as key India bets

Beyond telecom, Mittal said Bharti Airtel was expanding its presence in digital infrastructure, with data centres and sovereign cloud emerging as key areas of investment.

The company was scaling its data centre capacity from about 300 megawatts to 1 gigawatt, with facilities being developed in southern India, near Mumbai and around Delhi.

It was also working to build a sovereign cloud to serve Indian enterprises, government agencies and defence forces, reflecting growing concerns about data security and digital sovereignty.

Mittal said India’s stable policy environment and expanding network of trade agreements made it an attractive investment destination, despite recent pressure on the rupee from oil prices and supply-chain disruptions.

Also Read: Where does India stand in a world of 'choke points'? EAM Jaishankar weighs in

He also identified financial services as a new growth area for Airtel in India, where it was beginning to offer consumer loans to customers.

The company already operated Airtel Money, a major financial services business across 14 African countries.

On artificial intelligence, Mittal called for global guardrails, warning that governments could not afford to wait for an accident before addressing risks. He said regulation should protect users without stifling innovation, arguing that the technology required international cooperation rather than fragmented national approaches.
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In Video: Sunil Bharti Mittal on Musk's anger over GOI permissions, Airtel’s next growth phaseRead More News onSunil Bharti Mittalsatellite internet approval IndiaElon Musk StarlinkBharti Airtel digital infrastructureEutelsat OneWebfinancial services growth Indiadata centres Indiasovereign cloud Indiaartificial intelligence regulationBloomberg New Economy Forum 2026

(Catch all the Business News, Breaking News and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.)

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Read More News onSunil Bharti Mittalsatellite internet approval IndiaElon Musk StarlinkBharti Airtel digital infrastructureEutelsat OneWebfinancial services growth Indiadata centres Indiasovereign cloud Indiaartificial intelligence regulationBloomberg New Economy Forum 2026

(Catch all the Business News, Breaking News and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.)

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