Why Elon Musk is taking on India's richest man over Starlink

Elon Musk has questioned whether Mukesh Ambani is the "real brag of India" as his satellite‑internet venture Starlink encounters obstacles in securing final approval to operate in the country. The comment followed Musk’s accusation a day earlier that unnamed powerful business interests are attempting to block Starlink’s entry into India, after which he specifically pointed to Ambani, whose Reliance conglomerate controls Jio, India’s largest mobile‑network operator. India has dismissed Musk’s claims, asserting that its regulations governing satellite communications are fair and non‑discriminatory. Ambani and Reliance Group have not issued a response to Musk’s remarks; the BBC has contacted them for comment. The exchange occurs amid intensifying competition in India’s satellite‑broadband sector, with Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel also preparing to launch their own services. The rivalry is further complicated by the fact that Starlink has already entered into partnerships with both Ambani’s Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel. In March 2025, the two Indian firms signed agreements with SpaceX to distribute Starlink equipment and provide services in India, pending governmental clearance. The parties noted they could explore sharing network infrastructure. The BBC has likewise sought comment from Bharti Airtel. Musk first raised the allegations on Wednesday, alleging that “certain oligarchs” maintain a “monopolistic chokehold” on Indian consumers. “You tin conjecture who they are,” he wrote on X (external), adding that obstructing Starlink constitutes “a transgression against the radical of India.” On Thursday, India’s Ministry of Communications replied, stating that three operators—Starlink, Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio Satellite Communications—are at broadly the same stage of the authorization process, each awaiting security clearances and spectrum allocation before they can commence commercial operations. “The proposition that the model or its exertion is unfair or discriminatory is baseless and misconceived,” the ministry said, without naming Musk directly. Musk persisted in challenging the delay, noting that Starlink already holds licences in more than 165 countries. “Starlink is licensed in implicit 165 countries and has spent 5 years complying with each azygous instrumentality and request of the authorities of India, so why inactive nary license? Is Ambani the existent brag of India?” he posted on X on Thursday. Starlink, a subsidiary of Musk’s SpaceX, employs low‑Earth‑orbit satellites to deliver broadband access, especially to remote regions where terrestrial mobile networks and fiber‑optic cables are impractical or prohibitively expensive. The company has pursued entry into the Indian market since 2021 and has obtained several key licences, but still awaits the final security clearances and spectrum allocation required to begin commercial service. Read the full story at BBC News →