In brief
Elon Musk has questioned whether Mukesh Ambani is the “real boss of India” after Starlink was denied final approval to operate. Musk called the block a crime against Indian consumers, yet India’s Ministry of Communications said all satellite operators are at the same stage of review. Starlink, the satellite‑internet arm of SpaceX, works with Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel to bring connectivity to remote areas. Competition is high, and concerns about security clearances and pricing remain as the company waits for a licence. The dispute highlights the complex interplay between technology, regulation and corporate power in one of the world’s largest internet markets.
Elon Musk has asked whether Mukesh Ambani is the ‘real boss of India’ after Starlink struggled to obtain regulatory approval to launch in the country. Musk pointed the criticism at the owner of India’s largest mobile operator, Jio, after losing out on the satellite internet licence.
The allegation followed a post on X in which Musk said unnamed ‘oligarchs’ were preventing Starlink from entering India, calling the block a crime against Indian consumers.
India’s Ministry of Communications denied any bias, saying Starlink, OneWeb and Jio Satellite were at the same approval stage and were simply awaiting security clearance and spectrum allocation.
Starlink, owned by SpaceX, uses low‑Earth‑orbit satellites to deliver internet to isolated areas. It has secured key licences but still needs final clearance from Indian authorities.
Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel also plan satellite services and have signed agreements with SpaceX to distribute Starlink equipment, adding to industry competition; yet Musk said the service could help bridge connectivity gaps in underserved regions.
Skeptics point to concerns over cost and security, recalling that Indian officials seized Starlink hardware during a drug‑smuggling raid and during a military operation in northeastern Manipur, though Musk insisted the equipment had never been activated for Indian users.
How pricing will work remains unclear. In the U.S., Starlink residential plans start at $55 a month, but whether a comparable rate could be offered in India is yet to be disclosed.