New Delhi, November 13: Bharti Enterprises Founder and Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal has stressed that India must retain control over the shutdown mechanism, or “kill switch”, for satellite communication services operating within the country, warning against excessive dependence on any single foreign company or nation.
In an interview with PTI marking the 50th anniversary of Bharti Enterprises, Mittal said the ability to switch off, restrict or regulate satellite services should remain within India’s control to safeguard national security and strategic interests.
“The kill switch, as we call it, should not be sitting somewhere else. India must have control over its own space destiny,” Mittal said.
The kill switch allows satellite network operators or authorised authorities to suspend or restrict services in specific locations, individual terminals or across an entire country. Such capabilities are considered important during security emergencies, military conflicts and other sensitive situations.
Mittal argued that allowing a foreign operator to retain complete control over this mechanism could create risks, as India’s military, emergency services and civilian users could potentially lose connectivity due to decisions taken outside the country.
Referring to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, he pointed out that the country was using both Starlink and OneWeb satellite communication services.
His remarks come amid growing concerns over the strategic importance of satellite networks after Ukraine accused Elon Musk’s SpaceX of disrupting its military operations through restrictions on Starlink connectivity.
Mittal said modern warfare increasingly depends on space-based technologies, including drones, cyber operations and guided missiles, making control over satellite communications essential for national security.
He maintained that India’s scrutiny of satellite operators was justified and that strict security safeguards must be established before commercial services are launched.
The Bharti Airtel chairman also emphasised the need for multiple satellite service providers, saying India should not depend entirely on one company or one country.
He stressed that satellite communication equipment, ground infrastructure and data routing systems should meet national security requirements, with communications routed through India for appropriate monitoring.
Mittal also highlighted the progress of Eutelsat OneWeb, saying the company was developing secure communication infrastructure for Europe, supported by significant European Union investment.
He said OneWeb’s services were already operational in India for certain purposes, with government agencies occasionally using its terminals for emergency communication.
According to Mittal, OneWeb has fulfilled the government’s requirements and is awaiting final approval to begin commercial operations.
India currently has three companies holding satellite communication licences: Jio, OneWeb and Starlink. All three have received provisional spectrum, while the final launch of services remains subject to security clearances.
On the spectrum allocation debate, Mittal explained that satellite operators share available spectrum and must coordinate their operations across different orbital positions. He also said OneWeb has priority in the Ku-band spectrum, requiring other operators to coordinate accordingly.
Mittal further clarified that satellite broadband would complement, rather than replace, existing mobile and fibre networks.
He said satellite connectivity would be particularly useful in remote rural areas, forests, mountains, high-altitude regions, oceans and other locations where conventional telecom infrastructure remains limited.
According to him, the future of India’s digital connectivity will depend on the combined use of fibre, mobile networks and satellite technology to provide reliable communication across the country.
