Eutelsat OneWeb seeks urgent security clearance for India satcom launch

Security clearance delays risk satellite obsolescence

Eutelsat OneWeb has requested the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to expedite its pending security clearance, which is the final regulatory hurdle preventing the launch of its satellite broadband services in India, according to Inc42. The company has been awaiting approval since its security compliance demonstration in January 2025, a delay of over 18 months.

The Economic Times reports that one of the key risks of further delays is the potential obsolescence of some of OneWeb’s low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. Many are nearing the end of their operational lives, which could render them unusable before commercial launch in India.

Infrastructure and approvals in place

OneWeb received authorisation from IN-SPACe in November 2023, allowing it to provide satellite constellation capacity in India. The company has also established ground infrastructure, including gateways in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, and points of presence in Mumbai and Chennai, according to the report.

The company holds a Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) licence from the DoT, secured in August 2021. It was the first satcom operator to receive this permit in India.

Competitors face similar regulatory hurdles

Starlink and Jio Satellite, which target retail consumers and enterprise partnerships respectively, are also awaiting security clearance from Indian authorities. This suggests a broader regulatory bottleneck for satcom operators in the country.

Unlike OneWeb, which focuses on enterprise customers, Starlink plans to serve retail consumers directly, while Jio Satellite will operate through a joint venture with Luxembourg-based SES, leveraging a medium Earth orbit (MEO) satellite constellation.

Reliance Industries is reportedly exploring a multi-billion-dollar investment in its own LEO satellite constellation, including potential acquisitions of companies with existing orbital slots and infrastructure.

Next steps for commercial launch

Even after securing security clearance, OneWeb will require spectrum assignment from Indian authorities before it can begin commercial operations. The clearance process covers lawful interception, network monitoring, and localisation of critical network functions.

OneWeb operates a global constellation of over 600 LEO satellites, some of which have been launched by ISRO in dedicated missions during 2022 and 2023. The company is actively replacing satellites that have completed their operational lives.

What this means

Lazyfounder analysis — our interpretation, not reported fact.

Eutelsat OneWeb’s push for security clearance is a signal to founders and operators in India’s satellite broadband space: regulatory approvals are now the bottleneck—not technology or infrastructure. The 18-month delay since its security demo, combined with the aging of its satellites, shows that even well-funded global players are vulnerable to unpredictable timelines. For Indian startups or enterprises waiting for satellite connectivity, this underscores the need to plan for regulatory uncertainty in their go-to-market strategies.

Key takeaways

• Security clearance is the final hurdle for Eutelsat OneWeb before launching satellite broadband services in India, but delays risk rendering some satellites unusable.
• The company has already secured IN-SPACe authorisation and built ground infrastructure in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, indicating readiness for commercial launch.
• Spectrum assignment will be required even after security clearance, adding another step to the regulatory process for satcom operators.
• Competitors like Starlink and Jio Satellite are also awaiting clearance, though they target different customer segments: enterprises (OneWeb), retail consumers (Starlink), and joint-venture partnerships (Jio Satellite).