SpaceX chief accuses Indian billionaire of blocking satellite internet to protect monopoly as regulatory approvals stall.
Elon Musk has intensified his public campaign for Starlink’s entry into India by sarcastically addressing Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani as “Prime Minister Ambani,” accusing him of wielding outsized influence and seeking to preserve what he called a monopolistic grip on the country’s telecom market.
In a post on X on Friday, the SpaceX and Tesla chief wrote: “Dear Prime Minister Ambani, Please accept my humble apologies for not realising that you are the real boss of India. 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 Escalates Starlink Dispute with Ambani in India:
Musk argued that large parts of India still lack internet access, denying children educational opportunities and preventing small businesses from reaching global markets. “Starlink would change their lives for the better,” he said. In a follow-up post, he added that the satellite service had proven essential for saving lives during natural disasters when conventional communication systems fail, and could offer the same benefit in India.
The remarks escalate a dispute that began earlier in the week. On Wednesday, Musk accused unnamed “oligarchs” of blocking Starlink to maintain a “monopolistic chokehold on the Indian people,” describing it as “a crime against the people of India.” On Thursday, he asked directly: “Is Ambani the real boss of India?” He claimed Starlink is licensed in more than 165 countries and has spent five years complying with every Indian law and requirement, yet still lacks final commercial clearance.
India’s government has rejected the allegations. Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia stated that the country “does not allow a monopoly in any sector” and that its satellite communications regulatory framework is fair and non-discriminatory. Officials noted that Starlink, along with two other operators-Jio Satellite Communications (part of Ambani’s Reliance group) and Eutelsat OneWeb (backed by Bharti Airtel)-are at similar stages of the approval process, awaiting security clearances and spectrum allocation before commercial operations can begin.
Starlink Awaits Final Approval for India Launch:
Starlink received a key operating licence from India’s Department of Telecommunications around mid-2025. However, commercial launch still requires meeting security compliance conditions under the Ministry of Home Affairs and obtaining spectrum assignment. SpaceX had earlier signed distribution agreements with both Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel to offer the service once approvals are secured.
Reliance Jio, India’s largest mobile network with more than half a billion customers, has not publicly responded to Musk’s comments. This highlights broader tensions over market access, regulatory timelines and the influence of domestic conglomerates in one of the world’s largest telecom markets.
Starlink’s low-Earth-orbit satellite constellation is designed to deliver high-speed internet to remote and underserved areas where traditional infrastructure is difficult or costly to deploy. Musk has repeatedly framed the service as a tool for bridging digital divides, supporting education and enabling disaster response. Critics of the delay point to India’s cautious approach to foreign satellite operators, citing national security and spectrum management concerns.
The exchange has drawn political attention inside India, with opposition figures commenting on the remarks, while the government maintains that all applicants are treated equally under existing rules. As of Saturday, no timeline had been announced for the final security clearances or spectrum decisions that would allow Starlink-or its domestic rivals-to begin commercial satellite internet services.