Musk accuses Ambani of blocking Starlink’s India launch

Elon Musk has intensified his criticism of Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani, accusing him of protecting his telecom interests as SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service remains unable to begin commercial operations in India.

Musk, in a post on X on Friday, challenged Ambani to allow Starlink to compete in the country, suggesting that the Reliance Industries chairman stood to benefit from limiting competition.

“Naturally, you would prefer to maintain your monopolistic exploitation of the great people of India, but would you nonetheless consider allowing Starlink to compete?” Musk wrote.

He argued that Starlink could extend internet access to underserved communities, improve learning opportunities for children and help small businesses reach customers globally.

The latest outburst follows Musk’s earlier allegation that unnamed “oligarchs” were obstructing Starlink’s entry into India to protect their commercial interests.

India’s Ministry of Communications rejected the claims, insisting that its regulatory framework for satellite communications was fair and non-discriminatory.

Musk had also questioned Ambani’s influence in a separate post on Thursday, asking, “Is Ambani the real boss of India?”

However, India’s telecom minister, Jyotiraditya Scindia, pushed back against the allegations on Friday, saying the country “does not allow a monopoly in any sector.”

SpaceX has spent years seeking approval to launch Starlink in India, one of the world’s largest internet markets. Although the company secured distribution agreements with Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel last year, it has yet to receive final approval to commence commercial operations.

In a statement on Thursday, the communications ministry said Starlink and two other licensed satellite operators were undergoing security assessments required before satellite spectrum could be allocated.

The ministry said all three operators were at “broadly the same regulatory stage”, rejecting suggestions that Starlink was being deliberately singled out.

The dispute comes amid competition over how satellite spectrum should be allocated in India. Starlink favoured administrative allocation, while Reliance Jio advocated an auction. New Delhi ultimately opted for administrative allocation.

Reliance Jio and Airtel are also pursuing satellite internet services in the country. Jio has a joint venture with Luxembourg-based SES, while Airtel is a major shareholder in Eutelsat OneWeb.

India’s population of more than one billion internet users makes it a major potential market for Starlink, but entry into the country requires navigating a regulatory environment involving established telecom operators and government approvals.

Musk has also faced challenges expanding Tesla in India. The electric vehicle maker entered the market last year, but registered only 699 vehicles in its first 12 months of deliveries, according to data cited by Electrek. High import duties have pushed Tesla’s prices significantly above those in the United States.

Reliance Jio had not immediately responded to a request for comment on Musk’s latest remarks.