Musk Questions Ambani’s Influence as Starlink India Launch Stalls

Elon Musk questioned Reliance Industries chair Mukesh Ambani’s influence in India as Starlink’s satellite internet launch there remains stalled. “Is Ambani the real boss of India?” Musk wrote on X on Thursday, after saying Starlink had spent years complying with Indian regulations but still lacked a license.

The comments followed Musk’s accusation that unnamed “oligarchs” were blocking Starlink’s entry to preserve what he called a “monopolistic chokehold.” He provided no evidence for the claim. India’s Ministry of Communications said its satellite communications rules are “fair and non-discriminatory,” and that Starlink and two other licensed operators are at “broadly the same regulatory stage.” All three are undergoing security assessments before they can seek spectrum.

Starlink has spent more than five years trying to enter India, a market with more than 1 billion internet subscribers, but has not started commercial service. SpaceX says it has more than 20 gateway sites and hundreds of ground antennas in the country, and has adapted operations to meet regulatory, security, and data-sovereignty requirements.

Starlink has partnered with Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, which are also pursuing satellite internet services. India chose administrative allocation of satellite spectrum over an auction, the approach Starlink had favored. The launch date remains unclear. This week, Starlink launched Starlink Mobile in neighboring Bangladesh.