India’s government says all licensed satellite operators face the same process, while Musk asks why Starlink still has no license.
Elon Musk accuses Ambani of using political influence to hold back Starlink in India, after the SpaceX founder asked on X this week whether billionaire Mukesh Ambani is the real boss of the country, according to Reuters. India’s government has rejected the suggestion. Reuters said Musk provided no evidence for the claim.
Why Elon Musk Accuses Ambani Over the Starlink India Delay
The row began on Wednesday, when Musk claimed unnamed oligarchs were blocking Starlink to protect a monopoly, Al Jazeera reported. On Thursday, Deccan Herald reported, Musk wrote that Starlink holds licenses in more than 165 countries and has spent five years meeting Indian requirements. He then asked: “Is Ambani the real boss of India?”
Musk also addressed Ambani as “Prime Minister” in a sarcastic post and apologized for not realizing his influence. The same report said Musk asked Ambani to let Starlink compete, arguing that satellite internet could help children and small businesses in areas with no connection.
India Rejects the Monopoly Claim
India’s Ministry of Communications said on Thursday that its framework is fair and that suggestions of discrimination are “baseless and misconceived,” Al Jazeera reported. According to the report, the statement did not name Starlink or Musk. Reuters reported that the government said all three licensed satellite operators, including Starlink, are at broadly the same regulatory stage.
On Friday, Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia told a media briefing: “India does not allow a monopoly in any sector,” Reuters reported. Deccan Herald reported that the telecom department stressed that security compliance is mandatory for every satellite license holder.
Reliance Jio and Political Reaction
Reuters said Reliance Jio did not respond to a request for comment. Outlook Business, citing the Press Trust of India, reported that Jio Platforms managing director Akash Ambani declined to comment and said he had not seen Musk’s remarks.
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi also replied to Musk on X. “Welcome to India, Elon,” he wrote, according to Outlook Business, and Musk thanked him. The same outlet reported that Musk rejected claims that Starlink had been used by militants in Manipur, saying its satellite beams are switched off over India.
Background: Starlink Licence and the Spectrum Dispute
Al Jazeera reported that Starlink has waited since 2022 for permission to operate commercially in India. It said the company received a key licence from the Communications Ministry last year, along with approval from the space agency. Reuters said the company is seeking entry into a market with more than a billion internet users, currently dominated by Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel.
The two firms have clashed with Musk before. Reuters reported, as carried by The Financial Express, that Reliance had urged an auction of satellite spectrum, but the government sided with Musk, who wanted it allocated administratively.
In March 2025, AFP reported that Jio signed a deal with SpaceX to sell Starlink equipment through its retail outlets, a day after Airtel signed a similar pact. Jio said its agreement depended on SpaceX receiving its own authorisations. Al Jazeera said that cooperation now appears to have soured.
Will Starlink Get an India Licence Soon?
No timeline has been given. TechCrunch reported that the Starlink India launch remains in limbo. Outlook Business reported that Starlink says it is ready to launch once approved, while the government maintains that every operator is being treated under the same rules.