Starlink India Stalls as Elon Musk Targets Mukesh Ambani’s Influence
Elon Musk challenges Mukesh Ambani's influence as Starlink's India launch awaits security reviews despite approvals, partners and local infrastructure.
Summary
On October 7, Elon Musk alleged without evidence that unnamed Indian “oligarchs” were delaying Starlink to preserve a “monopolistic chokehold,” calling it a crime against Indians lacking affordable, high-speed internet. On October 8, he asked whether Reliance Industries chair Mukesh Ambani was India’s “real boss,” saying SpaceX had complied for years without receiving a license. India’s Ministry of Communications called its satellite framework fair and non-discriminatory, saying Starlink and two other licensed operators are at broadly the same regulatory stage and must complete security assessments before seeking spectrum.
Starlink has pursued India’s market of more than 1 billion internet subscribers for over five years. It has key approvals but no commercial service or confirmed launch date, despite 2025 distribution partnerships with Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, more than 20 gateway sites, hundreds of antennas, and a local team led since December by former Payoneer executive Prabhakar Jayakumar. At India Mobile Congress in New Delhi, business operations vice president Lauren Dreyer said Starlink was ready to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s universal connectivity goal. SpaceX says its operations meet Indian regulatory, security and data sovereignty requirements and would complement terrestrial networks.
SpaceX’s 2021 launch attempt ended with preorder refunds in early 2022 after India objected to sales before licensing. Starlink later favored administrative spectrum allocation, while Jio sought a potentially costlier auction; India chose Starlink’s approach. Jio and Airtel will distribute Starlink while pursuing rival services, Jio with SES and Airtel as a major Eutelsat OneWeb backer. Starlink Mobile launched this week in Bangladesh, but India’s launch still awaits security clearance and spectrum. Starlink, the ministry, Jio and Airtel did not immediately comment.
Positives
- More than 20 Starlink gateway sites and hundreds of antennas are already installed across India.
- Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel agreed in 2025 to distribute Starlink despite developing competing satellite services.
- India selected administrative satellite spectrum allocation, Starlink’s preferred model, instead of Jio’s potentially costlier auction proposal.
- SpaceX says Starlink has adapted to India’s regulatory, security and data sovereignty requirements.
- Starlink Mobile launched this week in Bangladesh, connecting ordinary phones directly to satellites.
Risks & concerns
- More than five years after beginning its India push, Starlink still lacks commercial service and a confirmed launch date.
- Security assessments must finish before Starlink and two other licensed operators can seek satellite spectrum.
- Elon Musk offered no evidence that unnamed oligarchs or Mukesh Ambani were blocking Starlink.
- SpaceX refunded preorders in early 2022 after India objected to its 2021 sales before licensing.
- Jio’s SES partnership and Airtel’s backing of Eutelsat OneWeb create direct competition for Starlink.