SpaceX founder Elon Musk publicly criticized Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani on Thursday, alleging that Ambani and other 'oligarchs' are responsible for stalling the launch of Starlink's internet service in India [1]. Musk claimed that Starlink has spent 'five years complying with every single law and requirement' of the Indian government, yet has not been allowed to launch its services [1]. He questioned, 'Is Ambani the real boss of India?' and accused certain business interests of maintaining a 'monopolistic chokehold on the Indian people' [1].
Ambani's company, Jio, is the largest telecom and internet service operator in India, controlling about 80% of the market along with Airtel, the second-largest operator [1]. Jio is reportedly planning to set up a satellite network of around 1,600 low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites and 23 ground stations to expand connectivity across India [1]. Meanwhile, Starlink has 11,000 satellites in orbit, providing service to over 170 countries, but remains unable to operate in India due to regulatory hurdles [1].
The dispute has sparked political reactions, with India's leader of the opposition, Rahul Gandhi, responding to Musk's comments by suggesting that the government is influenced by powerful businessmen like Ambani and Gautam Adani [1]. Gandhi remarked, 'Wait till you meet the other one,' referencing Adani, and Musk replied, 'This is indeed troubling' [1].
In March of the previous year, Starlink signed agreements with both Jio Platforms and Airtel to explore cross-selling products and services in India [1]. Starlink received a license to launch its services in July of that year, ahead of Airtel-backed Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio's similar offerings [1]. However, Bloomberg reported that the Indian government subsequently froze approvals for Starlink over concerns that its terminals could be used without proper licensing [1]. Reliance Industries, Ambani's flagship company, did not respond to requests for comment [1].
CONCLUSION
Elon Musk's public accusations against Mukesh Ambani highlight ongoing regulatory and competitive challenges for Starlink's entry into the Indian market. With Jio and Airtel dominating the sector and government approvals frozen, the situation underscores concerns about market access and potential monopolistic practices in India's telecom industry.