00:00Elon Musk's space-based internet service Starlink has hit a snag in its India launch.
00:05People familiar with the matter tell Bloomberg the country has effectively frozen approvals
00:10amid concerns over the use of Starlink satellite terminals in the Iran war.
00:14The service isn't licensed to operate in Iran.
00:17And New Delhi fears it may have limited control over the US-based operator
00:21during the periods of geopolitical tension.
00:24The timing could draw investor attention.
00:26Just as SpaceX is looking to go public at a valuation of around $1.75 trillion,
00:33there are other regulatory hurdles standing in the way of Starlink's India plans.
00:38Officials have sought further security compliance measures
00:41and that cautious stance extends to Starlink's competitors like domestic operators,
00:47Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel as well.
00:49Starlink has continued to engage with Indian authorities,
00:52emphasizing that it meets local data storage requirements.
00:56But for now, it's still waiting for the green light.
00:59India is a crucial market for Starlink,
01:02especially with the service still banned in China.
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