Key facts
- Elon Musk accused unnamed "oligarchs" of blocking Starlink's entry into India to maintain a "monopolistic chokehold."
- India's Ministry of Communications stated that Starlink and two other satellite operators are undergoing security assessments.
- Musk questioned the influence of Reliance Industries chairperson Mukesh Ambani regarding Starlink's delayed launch.
- Starlink has been attempting to enter the Indian market for over five years.
- Starlink has over 20 gateway sites and hundreds of antennas on the ground in India.
Elon Musk has accused unnamed "oligarchs" of blocking the launch of SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet service in India to maintain a "monopolistic chokehold" on the country. Musk's comments on X escalate a dispute over regulatory delays, with India's Ministry of Communications pushing back against his claims.
The ministry stated on Wednesday that Starlink and two other licensed satellite operators are all at "broadly the same regulatory stage" and are undergoing security assessments required before they can seek spectrum. Musk had previously claimed that powerful business interests were hindering Starlink's entry.
Musk further questioned the influence of Reliance Industries chairperson Mukesh Ambani on Thursday, asking "Is Ambani the real boss of India?" He argued that Starlink has spent years complying with Indian regulations and questioned why it still lacks a license.
Starlink has been attempting to enter India, a market with over a billion internet subscribers, for more than five years. Despite securing key regulatory approvals and partnering with Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel last year, it has yet to begin commercial services. SpaceX has established a local team and appointed Prabhakar Jayakumar to lead its India operations.
Starlink's vice president of business operations, Lauren Dreyer, reiterated the company's commitment to the market at the India Mobile Congress, stating, "We stand ready to serve India." Starlink has reportedly prepared over 20 gateway sites and hundreds of antennas in India and has adapted its operations to meet the country's regulatory, security, and data-sovereignty requirements. SpaceX positions its satellite network as a complement to terrestrial telecom networks.
SpaceX's initial attempt to launch in India in 2021 was halted when the government required the company to refund preorders due to "booking/rendering the satellite internet service" before obtaining necessary licenses. Starlink has also previously disagreed with Indian telecom operators on spectrum allocation, advocating for administrative assignment over auctions, a position India ultimately adopted.