Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu has once again made the case for India building its own technology instead of depending on foreign companies, this time reacting to an unconfirmed report claiming that the US is considering cutting Starlink internet access in Ukraine. Vembu said the reported possibility was a reminder of why India needs to develop its own technology and connectivity infrastructure.
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“This is why we cannot trust technology from them. We have no option but to build,” Vembu wrote on X, responding to a post by BRICS News that claimed Washington was considering restricting Starlink access in Ukraine.
The claim has not been officially confirmed. A response from Grok in the same discussion also said there were no confirmed reports of a current US plan to cut Ukraine’s Starlink access, while referring to earlier reports about the possibility being raised during negotiations in 2025.
However, Vembu’s reaction puts the focus on a larger question: how much should a country depend on technology controlled by companies based elsewhere, particularly when that technology becomes essential to communication and other critical services?
Vembu’s comments come as India looks to expand its own satellite connectivity capabilities, with Reliance Jio proposing a network of around 1,600 low-Earth orbit satellites and 23 ground stations.
Jio showcased its plans at India Mobile Congress 2026 in New Delhi, describing the initiative as “Sovereign Satellite Connectivity”. The company wants to combine satellite links with its existing mobile and fibre networks to reach remote villages, islands, border areas and other locations where conventional telecom infrastructure is difficult to build.
The proposed network is intended to support connectivity across more than 600,000 villages, as well as services for businesses, aviation, maritime operations, government, defence and disaster response. Jio also wants to explore direct-to-device calling for rural areas.
The plan is still a proposal, but it shows India’s interest in developing domestic capabilities in a sector where Elon Musk’s SpaceX, through Starlink, is seeking to establish a presence.
Starlink is yet to complete all the regulatory requirements for commercial operations in India. Although it has received key approvals, the remaining process includes security assessments and spectrum assignment.
Vembu backs Modi govt and Ambani’s Jio services
Vembu’s latest remarks follow his earlier criticism of Musk’s arguments over Starlink’s entry into India. Musk had sarcastically addressed Prime Minister Narendra Modi as “Ambani”, suggesting that India’s government was protecting Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani’s interests by delaying Starlink’s entry into the market.
Musk argued that Starlink could bring internet access to underserved parts of India, helping children access education and small businesses reach customers worldwide. He also accused powerful business interests of trying to prevent competition.
Vembu pushed back, arguing that India’s affordable internet access was itself evidence of the benefits of domestic competition. He credited Ambani’s Jio launch with bringing down data prices and pointed to India’s low-cost medicines and UPI payment system as other examples of services becoming affordable for ordinary people.
He also argued that the Modi government had encouraged competition and startups, including companies developing low-cost rockets that could eventually challenge SpaceX.
“These are the facts Elon,” Vembu wrote in his earlier post, directly challenging Musk’s criticism.
His latest comments do not mention Jio or Ambani by name. However, his call for India to build its own technology comes as Jio prepares its satellite connectivity plans and Starlink works towards entering the Indian market.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
