Elon Musk has accused Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani of blocking Starlink’s launch in India, drawing a rejection from the government over claims of unfair treatment.
In an October 9 post on X, Musk argued that SpaceX’s satellite internet service could connect underserved communities, support children’s education and help small businesses reach international customers.
“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 wrote.
His allegations do not establish that Ambani has interfered with the approval process. India’s Ministry of Communications has rejected claims that business interests are preventing Starlink from entering the market.
The ministry described its satellite communications framework as “fair and non-discriminatory.” In an October 8 statement, it said Starlink and two other licensed operators were undergoing security assessments before receiving satellite spectrum.
All three operators were at “broadly the same regulatory stage,” the ministry said, disputing the suggestion that Starlink faced different treatment.
Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia also rejected Musk’s allegations on October 9, saying India “does not allow a monopoly in any sector.”
The dispute has become increasingly personal. Earlier in the week, Musk accused unnamed business figures of protecting their interests by obstructing Starlink. He subsequently questioned Ambani’s influence over the government.
SpaceX has pursued an Indian launch for years. Although Starlink has secured key regulatory clearances, it still lacks approval to begin commercial operations.
The confrontation also involves a prospective distribution partner. In 2025, Starlink reached agreements with Reliance Jio, Reliance Industries’ telecom business, and Bharti Airtel to distribute its service once approvals were granted.
Both Indian telecom companies have satellite connectivity interests of their own. Jio has a joint venture with Luxembourg-based SES, while Airtel is a major shareholder in Eutelsat OneWeb.
Starlink and Jio previously took opposing positions on satellite spectrum allocation. Starlink favoured administrative assignment, while Jio argued for an auction. India ultimately chose the administrative approach.
That policy decision has not cleared the way for a commercial launch. The government says the operators must complete security assessments before spectrum can be assigned.