DoT Will Legally Examine Starlink’s Internet Offer

SpaceX’s Starlink is to go through a legal inspection which will be carried forward by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). The DoT will be examining if SpaceX’s offer to pre-sell in India violates any of the existing telecom or technology laws of India.

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The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) will thoroughly examine the provisions of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933, India’s Satcom policy, 2000 and the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000, according to an ET Telecom report.

DoT and BIF Are Not Pleased With Starlink’s Pre-Selling Offer

An official from DoT said, that a notice may be sent to Starlink if a piece of legal evidence is found that Starlink’s pre-selling offer violates India’s existing telecom regulations. The telecom authority is wary and not only needs to find out if the offer in consumer interest and but also if it follows national security implications.

Starlink’s offer doesn’t appear to violate Section 4 of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885; since Starlink is yet to be established, maintain or work within the Indian jurisdiction. A “telegraph” is explained as any appliance, instrument or apparatus used for transmission or reception of signals, images, data and sound/ intelligence by wire or electromagnetic emissions, under the act. The DoT’s concluding views are not firm yet.

The Broadband India Forum (BIF) has recently requested the government to stop pre-selling Starlink’s beta version essentially because the US satellite operator doesn’t even have a suitable license or authorization to carry on its operations in India. It is to be noted that the BIF represents the likes of many MNC’s including the Bharti Airtel and UK government co-owned satellite venture OneWeb, Amazon, Huges, Google, Microsoft and Facebook etc.