Elon Musk has escalated his criticism of India’s regulatory process for satellite internet services, making direct allegations against billionaire Mukesh Ambani and his Reliance conglomerate, which operates Jio, the nation’s largest mobile network operator. Musk claimed that unnamed oligarchs were maintaining a “monopolistic chokehold” on Indian consumers by blocking Starlink’s market entry, characterizing the situation as “a crime against the people of India.” He later specifically questioned whether Ambani held decisive influence over government decision-making.
India’s Ministry of Communications responded by stating that three satellite operators—Starlink, Eutelsat OneWeb, and Jio Satellite Communications—were at comparable stages in the approval process, each awaiting security clearances and spectrum allocation. The ministry rejected the characterization of its regulatory framework as unfair or discriminatory. Musk countered by noting that Starlink has secured licenses in over 165 countries and spent five years complying with Indian legal requirements.
The dispute emerged during the India Mobile Congress in Delhi, where executives from Starlink, Reliance Jio, and Bharti Airtel presented their respective satellite internet plans. Notably, both Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel have partnered with Starlink under agreements signed in March 2025, though these remain contingent on government approval. At the conference, Akash Ambani, Reliance Jio’s chairman, declined to respond to Musk’s allegations, stating the company intended to remain focused on delivering services to consumers.
Security considerations have factored significantly in regulatory discussions surrounding Starlink. Indian authorities recovered Starlink equipment during a drug-smuggling investigation in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and a military operation in Manipur in 2024. Musk disputed the relevance of these findings, asserting that Starlink’s service had never been active in India and that the recovered equipment could not have utilized the company’s satellite network.
Starlink has positioned itself as a solution to India’s uneven internet access, particularly in remote regions where infrastructure development remains challenging or costly. Musk emphasized that satellite internet could provide affordable connectivity to underserved populations. However, pricing remains uncertain; US residential plans begin at $55 monthly, leading analysts to question affordability for many Indian households, particularly in rural areas.
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