IOI
In the country, Starlink has yet to secure a licence to provide satellite communication or satcom services. Furthermore, it is suspected that the corporation controlled by Elon Musk’s SpaceX engaged in unethical business practises because it will only allow prospective clients to review the terms and conditions once they have paid the deposit.
Telecom Watchdog, a non-profit organisation, has asked the sector regulator (TRAI) for help in filing a criminal complaint against SpaceX. According to the report, Elon Musk’s organisation is defrauding potential customers, enticing Indians to pre-book space internet subscriptions. The non-profit organisation requested that the secretary of TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India), V Raghunandan, take immediate action to cease Starlink’s illegal behaviour in a letter dated September 29. It asks the regulator to bring a criminal prosecution against the corporation for defrauding under Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code+.
Starlink is the subject of a complaint.
The organisation also requested that the sector regulators take the required actions to ensure that users who have pre-booked be repaid with interest. It also asks the industry to chastise DoT officials for their passivity on the issue.
This is one of two letters sent to telecom authorities by the organisation as it seeks to take action against Starlink, which is owned by SpaceX. It wrote a similar letter to the DoT secretary a few days ago, alleging that Starlink is defrauding consumers by accepting pre-orders with a deposit of $99 (about Rs 7,500) for a service that has yet to be offered.
According to reports, the letter indicated that they wish to draw attention to a severe situation in which clients are being misled by Starlink Internet Services Limited, a company based in Ireland. Starlink has not been granted a licence to operate satellite communication or satcom services in the country, according to Telecom Watchdog. Furthermore, it is suspected that the corporation controlled by Elon Musk’s SpaceX engaged in unethical business practises because it will only allow prospective clients to review the terms and conditions once they have paid the deposit.
After paying for the service, customers are informed that there is no certainty as to when it will be available in the country. It also states that the tariff will be announced later. For those unfamiliar, Starlink began accepting pre-bookings in India in March and said that its services would be accessible in the country by 2022.
