Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to meet with Elon Musk during his upcoming visit to the United States, where discussions could include Starlink’s potential entry into the Indian market, according to a Reuters report citing two sources familiar with the matter.
The sources indicated that the meeting between PM Modi and Musk could focus on Starlink’s plans to introduce satellite broadband services in India, although these plans remain private. The Indian government is reportedly supportive of Musk’s proposal for spectrum allocation rather than an auction for Starlink’s services, though the company’s license application is still under review.
One of the sources mentioned that Musk is willing to address security concerns raised by India, including the commitment to store data locally. This follows an incident in December when Starlink’s satellite internet services were suspended in India after authorities seized two of the company’s devices—one found in an armed conflict zone and another linked to a drug smuggling operation.
While the focus of the discussions will likely be on Starlink’s expansion into India, it remains uncertain whether Musk’s electric vehicle company, Tesla, will be part of the conversation. However, the topic of sourcing more electric vehicle components from India could be raised during the meeting, the report added.
This meeting comes as Prime Minister Modi prepares for a two-day visit to the U.S., where he will also meet U.S. President Donald Trump. The visit follows his three-day trip to France and marks his first meeting with Trump since the latter’s second term began.
In a statement prior to his departure, PM Modi expressed optimism about deepening the India-U.S. partnership, citing the successful collaboration during Trump’s first term. He emphasized that the upcoming visit would provide an opportunity to strengthen ties in key areas such as technology, trade, defense, energy, and supply chain resilience, with the ultimate goal of benefiting both countries and shaping a better global future.
