Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has intensified his public criticism regarding the entry of his satellite internet service, Starlink, into the Indian market. In a series of posts on his social media platform, X, Musk directed pointed remarks toward Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, questioning the influence of established corporate players on the regulatory process.
Addressing the Indian Prime Minister and Mr. Ambani, Musk wrote, "Dear Prime Minister Ambani, please accept my humble apologies for not realising that you are the real boss of India." He further challenged the competitive landscape, stating, "Naturally, you would prefer to maintain your monopolistic exploitation of the great people of India, but would you nonetheless consider allowing Starlink to compete?" Musk argued that Starlink could provide essential internet access to underserved regions, thereby supporting education and small business growth.
The current dispute centers on the licensing process for Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) services. While the Indian government has granted telecom licenses to three entities—Starlink, Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb, and Jio Satellite Communications Ltd—actual service deployment remains pending. The Ministry of Communications has clarified that companies must first demonstrate compliance with specific security conditions, noting that the required security assessments are currently in progress.
This latest exchange follows earlier comments from Musk on Wednesday, in which he alleged that "oligarchs" were blocking Starlink to preserve a "monopolistic chokehold" on the Indian market, labeling the situation a "crime against the people of India." The Ministry of Communications responded on Thursday, dismissing these claims as baseless. The government maintained that it has established a "fair and non-discriminatory authorisation framework" for all telecommunication services, including satellite providers.
Musk has countered that Starlink has adhered to all government requirements over the past five years and is already licensed in more than 165 countries. He continues to advocate for the service's approval, citing its utility in emergency response and disaster management as evidence of its potential benefit to the Indian public.
