Elon Musk calls out Mukesh Ambani supporters over Starlink dispute in India

Elon Musk has accused supporters of Mukesh Ambani of pushing contradictory arguments regarding Starlink's entry into the Indian market. Writing on social media platform X, Musk claimed critics argue at once that his satellite internet service cannot rival low prices from Ambani while also treating Starlink as a major competitive threat.

Market Competition

Musk argued that market competition ultimately aids everyday consumers by broadening their choices. He stated that while Ambani's profits might decrease, the industrialist is not going out of business. Musk also noted that if Starlink sets prices too high in India, buyers will simply look elsewhere, forcing the company to make its rates affordable.

Past Posts

This exchange follows a series of posts by Musk criticizing Ambani over delays in launching Starlink services in India. Musk shared media reports alleging a Reliance-funded firm helped boost political campaigns and that a Reliance-linked company donated large sums through electoral bonds. These included a 2022 Al Jazeera report and a 2024 Indian Express report detailing Rs 385 crore donated to the BJP and Rs 25 crore to the Shiv Sena by Qwik Supply. Reliance has not publicly responded to these remarks.

Government Stance

Meanwhile, Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia stated that India does not permit monopolies in any sector. Scindia noted that three entities, including Starlink, Reliance Jio's satellite venture Jio Satcom, and Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb, have received satcom licences. These providers can begin operations after meeting security requirements, while Amazon's Project Kuiper has also expressed interest.

Context

Satellite communication services use low-Earth orbit satellites to beam internet access directly to user terminals, making them especially useful in remote areas lacking traditional fiber-optic cables. The debate in India centers on how spectrum for these services will be priced and allocated among competing global and domestic players.