Starlink asserts India infrastructure is ready as Reliance and Airtel respond to public spat

Starlink announced on Friday that it has worked with Indian regulators, industry, and operators for over five years, building dedicated infrastructure in the country with all requisite government approvals to provide high-speed internet services. The statement followed posts on X by Elon Musk taking aim at Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani, sarcastically addressing him as "Prime Minister Ambani" and questioning his influence over Indian decisions. Mr. Musk also accused powerful business groups of seeking to preserve a monopolistic chokehold on Indian consumers, sharing reports on a Reliance-linked firm's political donations and campaign role. Reliance responded by placing facts on record, stating it welcomes competition in satellite communications, including Starlink, but stressed that every player must comply with Indian laws. The Mukesh Ambani-led company cited Jio's record of entering the telecom market in 2016 with no customers and growing to over 530 million customers in ten years, while noting that Jio's own satellite services await clearances. The Ministry of Communications rejected Mr. Musk's charges, describing suggestions that the regulatory framework was unfair or discriminatory as baseless and misconceived. The government stated that all satellite operators must meet identical regulatory requirements, including security conditions and spectrum allocation rules, before starting commercial services. Meanwhile, at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum 2026, Bharti Airtel Chairman Sunil Mittal stated that his satellite venture Eutelsat OneWeb was significantly ahead of Starlink in the queue, noting he applied five years back and that OneWeb's ground network has been ready for three years.

Context

Satellite communication allows high-speed internet to reach remote areas using orbiting hardware rather than traditional cables. India's growing digital economy has attracted major global technology firms, making local licensing rules and spectrum policies a key focus for industry leaders.