Elon Musk Takes Fresh Swipe at Mukesh Ambani Over Starlink’s India Entry

US tech billionaire Elon Musk has renewed his criticism of Indian industrialist Mukesh Ambani and the Indian government over the regulatory framework for satellite internet services in India, accusing powerful business interests of attempting to preserve a monopoly in the market.

In a series of posts on his social media platform X, Musk has taken aim at Ambani and the Reliance Group over the challenges facing Starlink, the satellite internet service operated by his company SpaceX, in securing final approval to launch commercial operations in India.

According to a report by The Times of India, Musk sarcastically addressed the Indian business tycoon in one post, writing, “Dear ‘Prime Minister Ambani’, please accept my humble apologies for not realising that you are the true leader of India.”

He went on to question whether Starlink could be allowed to compete in the Indian market, despite what he described as efforts to maintain a monopoly over the country’s consumers.

Musk argued that many remote parts of India remain without reliable internet access, limiting educational opportunities for children and preventing small businesses from connecting with global markets. He claimed Starlink could help bridge the digital divide by extending connectivity to underserved communities.

Musk Questions India’s Licensing Process
The dispute over Starlink’s entry into the Indian satellite internet market intensified on Wednesday, when Musk responded to a user on X by alleging that certain oligarchs were attempting to prevent the company from entering India to protect their dominant market positions.

He described the alleged obstruction as a “crime against the people of India”.

On Thursday, Musk questioned why Starlink had yet to receive the necessary licence despite operating in more than 165 countries and, according to his claims, spending five years complying with Indian government requirements.

“Starlink is registered in over 165 countries and has spent five years complying with every law and requirement of the Indian government. Why has a licence still not been granted? Is Ambani the real ruler of India?” he wrote.

In a post on Friday, Musk also highlighted Starlink’s role in providing connectivity during natural disasters, when conventional communication networks may fail. He argued that allowing the service to operate in India could help save lives by maintaining communication during emergencies.

Indian Government Rejects Allegations
Responding to the controversy, India’s Ministry of Communications issued a clarification on Thursday, rejecting allegations that the country’s satellite communications licensing framework was discriminatory or designed to favour particular companies.

The ministry said India had established a transparent, neutral and non-discriminatory authorisation framework for the telecommunications sector, including satellite-based services.

It also clarified that the required security assessment process was still underway.

The government has maintained that final commercial approval will be granted only after the security review is completed and the companies concerned demonstrate compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements.

Three Major Players in India’s Satellite Internet Race
Three major players are competing to provide satellite-based communication services in India:

• SpaceX’s Starlink, owned by Elon Musk.
• Eutelsat OneWeb, backed by the Bharti Group, led by Indian industrialist Sunil Bharti Mittal.
• Reliance Jio Satellite Communications Ltd, owned by Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Group.

All three companies have reportedly received policy-level approval from the central government. However, they must still obtain the necessary security clearances and meet regulatory requirements before launching commercial services, including compliance with rules governing spectrum allocation.

The final authorisation for commercial operations will depend on the completion of the security review and fulfilment of the applicable conditions.

The dispute highlights growing tensions over the future of India’s satellite internet market, where global technology companies and major domestic conglomerates are competing for a share of a sector expected to expand connectivity in remote and underserved regions.