Musk questions Ambani's influence, asks if he is 'the real boss of India'
Editorial responsibility
- No named human review is recorded for this page.
- Source reporting is collected, normalized, translated or condensed automatically when needed.
- Automatically published source-backed update
Elon Musk escalated a dispute over Starlink's delayed launch in India by questioning the influence of billionaire Mukesh Ambani, asking on X: 'Is Ambani the real boss of India?' Musk had earlier accused unnamed 'oligarchs' of blocking Starlink to maintain a 'monopolistic chokehold,' without providing evidence. India's Ministry of Communications rejected the claims, stating its satellite regulatory framework is 'fair and non-discriminatory' and that Starlink and two other operators are at the same regulatory stage undergoing security assessments. Starlink has spent over five years trying to enter India, securing key approvals and partnerships with Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel in 2025, but has yet to begin commercial service. The company has set up local operations and 20 gateway sites. Starlink previously clashed with Indian telecoms over spectrum allocation, with India ultimately siding with Starlink's preferred administrative allocation. Jio and Airtel are also pursuing their own satellite internet services. Starlink launched its mobile satellite service in neighboring Bangladesh this week.
Source report
Elon Musk has questioned the influence of Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani as SpaceX struggles to launch its Starlink satellite internet service in the country. Musk's comments, posted on X, escalate a dispute over regulatory delays after the Indian government rejected his claims that powerful business interests were blocking Starlink's entry.
Musk's Accusations
On Wednesday, Musk accused unnamed "oligarchs" of blocking Starlink's launch in India to maintain what he called their "monopolistic chokehold" on the country. He did not identify them or provide evidence for his claim. Musk called the alleged blocking a "crime against the people of India" and argued that Starlink could bring affordable, high-speed internet to people who currently lack access.
On Thursday, Musk went further, directly questioning the influence of Reliance Industries chairperson Mukesh Ambani.
"Is Ambani the real boss of India?" — Elon Musk on X
Musk claimed that Starlink had spent years complying with Indian regulations and questioned why it still lacked a license.
Indian Government Response
Hours after Musk's initial comments, India's Ministry of Communications pushed back, stating that its regulatory framework for satellite communications is "fair and non-discriminatory." The ministry said in a statement that Starlink and two other licensed satellite operators are all at "broadly the same regulatory stage." It added that all three companies are undergoing security assessments that must be completed before they can seek spectrum — the radio frequencies that satellites use to send signals.
Starlink's Efforts in India
Starlink has spent more than five years trying to enter India, a market with more than a billion internet subscribers. Key developments include:
- Regulatory approvals: Secured key approvals, but commercial services have not yet begun.
- Partnerships: Partnered with telecom giants Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel last year.
- Local team: Appointed former Payoneer executive Prabhakar Jayakumar to lead India operations in December.
- Infrastructure: Has more than 20 gateway sites (ground stations linking satellites to the internet) and hundreds of antennas on the ground in India.
- Compliance: Adapted operations to meet India's regulatory, security, and data-sovereignty requirements.
SpaceX has positioned its satellite network as a complement to — rather than a replacement for — India's terrestrial telecom networks.
Starlink's Commitment
Hours before Musk's latest comments, Lauren Dreyer, Starlink's vice president of business operations, appeared at India Mobile Congress, a telecom industry conference in New Delhi, and reiterated the company's commitment to the market.
"We stand ready to serve India," Dreyer said, adding that Starlink wants to help realize Prime Minister Narendra Modi's goal of achieving universal connectivity across the country.
History of Starlink in India
- 2021: SpaceX first attempted to launch Starlink in India.
- Early 2022: The company had to refund preorders after the Indian government called it out for "booking/rendering the satellite internet service" before obtaining necessary licenses.
- Spectrum allocation dispute: Starlink pushed for spectrum to be assigned administratively, while Reliance Jio argued for an auction — a position that could have made Starlink's entry more expensive. India ultimately sided with Starlink's preferred approach, deciding to allocate satellite spectrum administratively.
Competitors' Satellite Internet Plans
Jio and Airtel, India's two biggest telecom operators, are also pursuing their own satellite internet services, even as they have agreed to distribute Starlink in India:
- Jio: Working with satellite operator SES on satellite broadband.
- Airtel: A major backer of Eutelsat OneWeb, another licensed satellite operator in India.
Regional Expansion
While the timing of Starlink's India launch remains unclear, the company this week launched Starlink Mobile, which connects ordinary phones to satellites, in neighboring Bangladesh.
Requests for Comment
Starlink, India's Ministry of Communications, Reliance Jio, and Bharti Airtel did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Update: This article was originally published October 7 at 11:14 p.m. PDT and has since been updated to include Musk's comments questioning Reliance Industries chairperson Mukesh Ambani's influence in India.
Source
TechCrunchWestern