NEW DELHI: Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder and Chairman of Bharti Enterprises, has emphasized the critical need for India to maintain control over the “kill switch” for its satellite communications infrastructure. His remarks come as the Indian government is in the process of finalizing security conditions that will govern the rollout of satellite broadband services across the nation.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that Mittal stated, “The kill switch, as we call it, should not be sitting somewhere else.” He added, “India must have control over its own space destiny,” underscoring the strategic importance of national sovereignty in space-based communications.
The “kill switch” refers to the capability to disable, throttle, or restrict a satellite network’s service, whether for a specific user terminal, a geographical region, or an entire country. This control is exercised through the operator’s system and ground gateways. In a satellite broadband system, user devices communicate with satellites, which then relay data to ground stations before connecting to the internet. Consequently, the entity managing these control and gateway systems possesses the inherent ability to cut off users or monitor their data traffic.
Governments view such control as a vital security tool, enabling them to swiftly shut down services during conflicts, security threats, or to enforce legal orders, as well as to monitor and intercept communications. The implications are significant: if the control of the kill switch resides with a foreign operator or is located outside India, the country’s military, emergency services, and civilian users could face a loss of connectivity due to decisions made elsewhere. This scenario, according to Mittal, represents a loss of control over India’s “space destiny.” Conversely, if the government holds this control, it can be exercised to restrict access during national emergencies or for strategic purposes.
These considerations are driving the government’s stringent review of satellite operators, with security clearances, in-country gateways, and monitoring requirements playing a key role in determining which companies can launch satellite broadband services in India and at what pace. Mittal drew attention to the situation in Ukraine, noting that the country utilizes both Starlink and OneWeb services. He recalled recent accusations by Ukraine against Elon Musk’s SpaceX for allegedly hindering its defense capabilities by reducing connectivity speeds, which reportedly impacted military operations and rendered some Ukrainian strike and interceptor drones virtually unusable.
Mittal defended the government’s scrutiny of satellite operators, arguing that warfare is increasingly being managed from space, encompassing drones, cyber operations, and guided missiles. “Everybody in the world needs to have control over its security,” he asserted. “There India will need to have guardrails. It’ll need to secure itself.”
He advised against India relying on a single satellite service provider, stating, “Importantly, it may need to have different players. You can’t just depend on one country or one company.” Furthermore, Mittal stressed the necessity of ensuring the security of the equipment and communications that are routed into the country for monitoring. “Everything should be routed through India,” he added.
Mittal mentioned that Eutelsat OneWeb is developing a secure European communications network, with substantial investment from the European Union, a development that has garnered considerable attention. He confirmed that OneWeb’s services are already operational in India and are occasionally used by the government for emergency services, citing an instance where an economic advisor used a OneWeb terminal for seamless streaming during a boat trip to Oman. Mittal expressed optimism about receiving final approval soon, stating, “We were the first licence given by the government. We have satisfied all their needs, and we just now wait for their signal.”
Currently, three companies—Jio, OneWeb, and Starlink—hold satellite communications licenses in India. The government has indicated that all three have secured provisional spectrum and are at comparable stages of readiness, with final launch permissions contingent upon security clearances. Regarding the spectrum debate, Mittal explained that satellite spectrum is a shared resource, and operators at different orbital altitudes must coordinate. He clarified that OneWeb holds priority on the KU band, necessitating coordination from other operators, a point understood by regulatory bodies.
Mittal also clarified that satellite technology will serve as a complement to, rather than a replacement for, mobile networks. He projected that satellites will remain complementary for the foreseeable future, citing their high cost and the operational lifespan of satellites, which require replacement every five to six years. He elaborated that while fibre optics are superior to radio in areas with existing fibre infrastructure, and radio excels over satellites where radio coverage is available, all these technologies will coexist. The primary advantage of satellite technology, he noted, lies in its ability to provide coverage in remote areas, including deep rural hinterlands, forests, hills, mountains, and at sea, effectively connecting users in areas with no existing mobile signal.
The Chenab Times News Desk
