Musk accuses Ambani of blocking Starlink’s India launch
Elon Musk has accused Mukesh Ambani of obstructing Starlink’s entry into India. The government says all satellite operators face the same security checks.
Elon Musk has accused Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani of blocking Starlink’s launch in India. The Indian government has rejected the claim that the satellite internet service is being treated unfairly.
In a post on X on 9 October 2026, Musk said SpaceX’s Starlink could connect underserved communities, give children more learning opportunities and help small businesses reach customers around the world.
“Naturally, you would prefer to maintain your monopolistic exploitation of the great people of India,” Musk wrote, asking whether Ambani would “consider allowing Starlink to compete?”
Government response
India’s Ministry of Communications said on 8 October that its satellite communications framework is “fair and non-discriminatory.” It said Starlink and two other licensed operators were undergoing security assessments before they can receive satellite spectrum, and that all three were at “broadly the same regulatory stage.”
Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on 9 October that India “does not allow a monopoly in any sector.” The three satcom licences are held by Starlink, Jio Satellite Communications and Eutelsat OneWeb, which is backed by Bharti Airtel.
How the dispute escalated
Earlier in the week, Musk said unnamed “oligarchs” were blocking Starlink to protect their business interests. On 8 October he asked on X: “Is Ambani the real boss of India?”
SpaceX has sought to launch Starlink in India for years. It has secured key regulatory clearances but does not yet have approval to begin commercial operations.
In 2025 Starlink signed agreements with Reliance Jio, the telecom business of Reliance Industries, and Bharti Airtel to distribute its service once approvals are granted. Both companies also have satellite plans of their own: Jio has a joint venture with Luxembourg-based SES, and Airtel is a major shareholder in Eutelsat OneWeb.
Starlink and Jio previously disagreed over how satellite spectrum should be allocated. Starlink favoured administrative assignment, while Jio argued for an auction. India chose administrative allocation, but the government says operators must complete security assessments before spectrum is assigned.
