Elon Musk targets Mukesh Ambani over Starlink's delayed entry into Indian internet market

Elon Musk has criticized Reliance Chairman Mukesh Ambani on social media over delays in launching Starlink satellite internet services in India, asking if the billionaire businessman is the real boss of the country. Musk wrote "Dear Prime Minister Ambani" in a post, claiming he did not realize Ambani had such vast influence and accusing him of trying to maintain a monopoly. He questioned whether Ambani would consider allowing Starlink to compete in the market, arguing that remote areas lacking internet access prevent children from studying and stop small business owners from selling goods globally. Musk noted that Starlink has operated for five years meeting Indian rules and already holds service approval in more than 165 countries.

Reactions and Government Stance

Following Musk's post asking if Ambani is the real boss, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi replied on X welcoming Musk to India and telling him to wait for another person. Musk responded by thanking Gandhi and calling the situation distressing. Gandhi's reference to another person is widely viewed as pointing toward industrialist Gautam Adani. Meanwhile, the Indian government has rejected allegations of discrimination, with communications minister Jyotiraditya सिंधिया stating that India permits no monopolies. According to BBC reports, the communications ministry noted that Starlink, Eutelsat OneWeb, and Jio Satellite Communications are at similar approval stages and must await security clearance and spectrum allocation. Ambani and Reliance have not responded to requests for comment.

Partnerships and Infrastructure

Despite the friction, Starlink has signed initial agreements with Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel to distribute equipment and services, alongside a letter of intent with state governments in Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Meghalaya. The company has built 20 ground gateway sites across India equipped with hundreds of antennas to connect space satellites with terrestrial networks. A Starlink kit includes a dish, Wi-Fi router, power supply cables, and a mounting tripod, requiring an open sky view for high-speed connectivity managed through iOS and Android apps.

Context

Satellite internet uses low Earth orbit spacecraft to beam broadband signals directly to remote regions where laying traditional fiber cables is difficult or expensive. India represents one of the world's largest telecommunications markets, making regulatory clearance a high-stakes milestone for global space and broadband operators.