Elon Musk Questions Ambani as Starlink Awaits India Approval
Elon Musk questioned Mukesh Ambani’s influence as Starlink internet waits for final security clearances and spectrum allocation in India. The government…
Satellite internet services are still awaiting final government approval in India, where competition is building among major telecom companies. Elon Musk has questioned whether Mukesh Ambani is the “real boss of India” as Starlink internet remains unable to begin commercial operations.
The dispute matters to a market where Starlink, Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel are all pursuing satellite connectivity. India’s Ministry of Communications says Starlink and two other operators are at broadly the same stage, awaiting security clearances and spectrum allocation.
Musk accused unnamed business interests of trying to block Starlink’s entry a day before singling out Ambani, whose Reliance conglomerate owns Jio. India rejected the allegation, saying its rules for satellite communications are fair and non-discriminatory.
“The suggestion that the framework or its application is unfair or discriminatory is baseless and misconceived,” the ministry said, without naming Musk directly.
Starlink internet awaits final clearances
Starlink, owned by Musk’s SpaceX, uses satellites in low Earth orbit to provide internet access, particularly in remote places where mobile networks and broadband cables are difficult or expensive to install. The company has been trying to enter India since 2021 and has secured key licences, but cannot launch commercial services until it receives final security clearances and spectrum allocation.
Musk said Starlink was licensed in more than 165 countries and questioned why it still lacked approval in India. In a post on X, he wrote: “Starlink is licensed in over 165 countries and has spent five years complying with every single law and requirement of the government of India, so why still no license? Is Ambani the real boss of India?”
The ministry said Starlink, Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio Satellite Communications were all awaiting the same two requirements. Its statement did not name Musk, but directly disputed the claim that the rules or their application were discriminatory.
The delay has a practical bearing on connectivity plans, especially in remote areas where conventional networks and broadband cables can be difficult or costly to install. Starlink presents satellite service as a way to reach those areas, while Indian operators are also developing their own offerings. The source materials do not say when any of the companies will receive the remaining approvals or begin commercial service.
Telecom rivals have agreements with SpaceX
The dispute sits alongside commercial ties. In March 2025, Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel signed agreements with SpaceX to distribute Starlink equipment and services in India, subject to government approval. The companies also said they could explore sharing network infrastructure.
At the India Mobile Congress in Delhi, senior executives from Starlink, Jio and Airtel discussed satellite service plans. Akash Ambani, chairman of Reliance Jio Infocomm, said Jio was developing its own satellite communications technology and working towards regulatory approvals. Asked about Musk’s allegations, he declined to comment on the dispute.
“We want to be heads down and deliver value to our Indian consumers,” Akash Ambani said.
Bharti Airtel chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal said his company’s satellite venture was also awaiting government approvals. SpaceX executive Lauren Dreyer said Starlink had spent years working with Indian regulators and built security controls into its network to meet the country’s requirements.
Security has been a concern around Starlink’s entry. Indian authorities said they recovered Starlink equipment in 2024 during a drug-smuggling investigation in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and an army operation in Manipur. Musk said at the time that Starlink’s service had never been active in India.
Reliance Ambani and Reliance Group had not responded to the BBC’s requests for comment, while the BBC also sought comment from Bharti Airtel. The ministry’s stated position is that all three operators remain at broadly the same approval stage.
Source: bbc.com
