Musk escalates attacks on Ambani over delayed Starlink launch in India
Elon Musk is criticizing Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani, claiming he is blocking the Starlink satellite internet service from entering the country. India's Ministry of Communications rejects the allegations.
Starlink, the satellite internet service run by Elon Musk's space company SpaceX, still lacks approval to begin commercial operations in India, and this week Musk has stepped up his public attacks on Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani, who leads the Reliance Industries conglomerate. Musk mockingly called him the country's "prime minister," suggesting outsized influence over the government, and accused him of blocking competition.
Musk's statements
On Friday, in a post on X, Musk wrote that Starlink could bring internet access to places that remain unconnected, giving children more chances to learn and helping small businesses reach customers worldwide. He asked Ambani to consider letting Starlink compete, while accusing him of monopolistic exploitation of the Indian people. On Thursday, Musk had asked whether Ambani is "the real boss of India." Earlier in the week he said unnamed "oligarchs" were blocking Starlink to protect their business interests.
Reliance Jio, the telecom arm of Reliance Industries, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
India's response
India's Ministry of Communications rejected the allegations, saying the country's regulatory framework for satellite communications is "fair and non-discriminatory." It said Starlink and two other licensed satellite operators are undergoing security assessments that must be completed before they can receive satellite spectrum, and that all three are at "broadly the same regulatory stage." Telecom minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Friday that the country "does not allow a monopoly in any sector."
Background
SpaceX has spent years trying to launch in India. Last year it struck distribution agreements with Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, India's second-largest telecom operator. Starlink and Jio previously clashed over how to allocate spectrum: Starlink wanted an administrative process, Jio an auction, and New Delhi ultimately chose the administrative route.
India is the world's most populous country, with over a billion internet users. Musk also faces challenges with Tesla there: the company launched sales last year but registered only 699 vehicles in its first 12 months of deliveries, according to data cited by Electrek.
