As SpaceX struggles to launch Starlink in India, Elon Musk has stepped up his attack on billionaire Mukesh Ambani, derisively calling him the country’s “prime minister” to suggest he exerts enormous control over his government and accusing him of blocking competition from satellite internet service. On Friday, Musk continued his criticism of the famous Reliance Industries chairman in a post on X, arguing that Starlink could bring Internet access to areas that remain disconnected, giving children more opportunities to learn and helping small businesses reach customers around the world. “Naturally, you would prefer to maintain your monopolistic exploitation of the great people of India, but would you nevertheless consider allowing Starlink to compete?” He wrote musk. Reliance Jio, the telecom arm of Reliance Industries, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Musk’s latest comments follow his accusations earlier this week that unnamed “oligarchs” were blocking the launch of Starlink in India to protect their commercial interests. India’s Communications Ministry rejected the allegations and said the country’s regulatory framework for satellite communications is “fair and non-discriminatory.” Musk then went further on Thursday, questioning Ambani’s influence in a separate post on X. “Is Ambani the real boss of India?” asked. SpaceX has been trying to launch Starlink in India for years. Last year, it even struck distribution deals with Ambani’s Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, India’s second-largest telecom operator, to offer the service once it received the necessary approvals. However, Starlink is yet to receive the nod from New Delhi to begin commercial operations, despite obtaining key regulatory clearances. In its statement on Thursday, India’s Communications Ministry said Starlink and two other licensed satellite operators are undergoing security assessments that must be completed before they can receive satellite spectrum. The ministry said the three are “virtually at the same regulatory stage,” rejecting Musk’s suggestion that Starlink was being singled out. Jio and Airtel are also looking to launch their satellite internet services in India. Jio has a joint venture with Luxembourg-based SES, while Airtel is a major shareholder in Eutelsat OneWeb, which is striving to offer satellite connectivity in the country. India, the world’s most populous country with more than one billion internet users, is an important market for Musk. But expanding there also means dealing with powerful business figures like Ambani, whose Reliance conglomerate owns India’s largest telecoms operator and is working with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government on major projects. In addition to the delay in the launch of Starlink, Musk has also faced challenges in expanding Tesla in India. The electric car maker launched in the country last year after years of anticipation, but recorded just 699 vehicles in its first 12 months of deliveries, according to data cited by Electrek. High import duties raised the launch price of the Model Y in India to almost double its price in the United States. Tesla lowered its prices earlier this year, but its cars are still considerably more expensive in India than in the U.S. Before Musk’s latest attack, Starlink and Ambani’s Reliance Jio clashed over how to allocate satellite spectrum in India. Musk’s company wanted the spectrum to be allocated through an administrative process, while Jio pushed for an auction. In the end, New Delhi went ahead with Starlink and decided to allocate the spectrum administratively. The launch of Starlink in India remains in limbo. Indian Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Friday rejected Musk’s allegations and said the country “does not allow a monopoly in any sector.” When you buy through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This does not affect our editorial independence.
