India: SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk has questioned billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s influence over India’s regulatory process as his satellite internet company, Starlink, awaits final government clearances to begin commercial operations in the country.
Musk accused powerful business interests of attempting to block Starlink’s entry into the Indian market, later naming Ambani, whose Reliance Group owns Jio, India’s largest mobile network operator. In a post on X, Musk asked whether Ambani was the “real boss of India” and argued that the delay was preventing consumers from accessing satellite internet services.
India’s Ministry of Communications rejected allegations of unfair treatment, saying Starlink, Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio Satellite Communications were at broadly similar stages of the approval process. The ministry said all three operators were awaiting security clearances and spectrum allocation before launching commercial services.
Why Is Starlink’s Entry into India Facing Delays?
Starlink, owned by Musk’s SpaceX, uses low-Earth-orbit satellites to provide internet access, particularly in areas where conventional broadband and mobile networks are difficult or expensive to establish.
The company has been seeking entry into India since 2021 and has obtained key licences, but it still requires final security clearances and spectrum allocation. Musk has said Starlink is licensed in more than 165 countries and questioned why the Indian approval process remains incomplete.
Security requirements have been a significant consideration. Indian authorities reported recovering Starlink equipment during a drug-smuggling investigation in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and an army operation in Manipur in 2024. Musk said at the time that Starlink’s service had not been activated in India.
How Could the Dispute Affect India’s Satellite Internet Market?
The dispute comes as Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel prepare to expand into satellite internet services. Both companies signed agreements with SpaceX in March 2025 to distribute Starlink equipment and services in India, subject to regulatory approval. The companies also indicated they could explore sharing network infrastructure.
At the India Mobile Congress in New Delhi, Reliance Jio chairman Akash Ambani said the company was developing its own satellite communications technology and working towards regulatory approvals. Bharti Airtel chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal also said his company’s satellite venture was awaiting government clearance.
The commercial prospects for Starlink will depend partly on affordability. Musk has argued that satellite connectivity could extend high-speed internet access to underserved communities, but the company has yet to announce its Indian pricing. Its residential plans in the United States start at $55 per month, although costs vary by plan and location.
Reliance and Bharti Airtel had not publicly responded to Musk’s latest allegations at the time of the BBC report.