Elon Musk has expressed frustration that his satellite internet venture, Starlink, has not yet secured all the necessary approvals to operate in India. He accuses local “oligarchs” of blocking the service’s launch in the country, which has the largest population in the world.
Musk stated that Starlink’s progress is being impeded by certain oligarchs aiming to maintain a monopolistic grip on the Indian populace. He shared these comments on his social media platform, X, without revealing the names of the individuals he alleges are responsible.
According to Reuters, the Indian telecommunications market is primarily dominated by Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, led by billionaires Mukesh Ambani and Sunil Mittal, respectively. Both companies, along with Musk’s Starlink, have received preliminary approvals to launch satellite internet services but are still awaiting spectrum allocation and final approvals.
Starlink has been in this holding pattern for four years, undergoing security requirements assessments and waiting for spectrum access.
India’s Response to Musk’s Allegations
In response to Musk’s statements, India’s Ministry of Telecommunications indicated that three companies are broadly at the same regulatory stage, with security evaluations being carried out for each. The ministry refrained from naming the companies and made these clarifications without directly referencing Musk.
“The claim that the regulatory framework or its enforcement is unfair or discriminatory is unfounded and stems from a misunderstanding,” the ministry stated in a release.
This dispute between Musk and Indian companies is not new. The billionaire had previously clashed with Mittal and Ambani over spectrum allocation in India before reaching an agreement last year and signing separate contracts to distribute Starlink devices in the country.
India presents an opportunity for Starlink, part of SpaceX, to access a satellite broadband market that Deloitte estimates will be worth $1.9 billion by 2030.
The situation also carries a diplomatic dimension. The White House has promoted Starlink’s market access as a goodwill gesture amid trade negotiations with countries affected by tariffs imposed during the Trump administration. The U.S. and India have struggled to finalize a trade agreement despite reaching a preliminary understanding in February.
