Amazon has reportedly written to the Indian government multiple times seeking expedited approval for a satellite communications (satcom) permit, even as it has fallen behind schedule on satellite launches. The company has sent several letters to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) regarding its satcom permit application. So far, the inter-ministerial committee (IMC) that oversees all satcom applications is yet to take up Amazon’s application.
Amazon applied for a permit in October 2023 and, in October last year, gave an unconditional undertaking to comply with all security conditions. The company is pushing for faster approval out of concern that Starlink will gain a first-mover advantage when commercial services launch, allowing it to capture a large share of retail and enterprise clients. Amazon has sought to offer three times the capacity of Starlink in India, with plans for 10 gateways and two points of presence under its Amazon Leo satcom network.
