Starlink India Launch Stalls Amid Musk–Ambani Dispute
The Starlink India launch has stalled, and Elon Musk is publicly questioning the influence of Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani as SpaceX struggles to bring its satellite internet service to the country. Musk’s comments, posted on X, escalate a dispute over regulatory delays after the Indian government rejected his claims that powerful business interests were blocking its entry.
Musk accused unnamed “oligarchs” on Wednesday of blocking the Starlink India launch to maintain what he called their “monopolistic chokehold” on the country. He did not identify them or provide evidence for his claim. He called the alleged blocking a “crime against the people of India” and argued that Starlink could bring affordable, high-speed internet to people who lack internet access.
Hours later, India’s Ministry of Communications pushed back. The ministry said its regulatory framework for satellite communications is “fair and non-discriminatory.” It added that Starlink and two other licensed satellite operators are all at “broadly the same regulatory stage.” All three companies are undergoing security assessments that must be completed before they can seek spectrum, the radio frequencies that satellites use to send signals.
Musk Questions Ambani’s Influence Directly
Musk went further on Thursday, questioning the influence of Reliance Industries chairperson Mukesh Ambani.
“Is Ambani the real boss of India?” he wrote on X, after claiming that Starlink had spent years complying with Indian regulations and questioning why it still lacked a license.
The remarks came hours after Lauren Dreyer, Starlink’s vice president of business operations, appeared at India Mobile Congress, a telecom industry conference in New Delhi. She reiterated the company’s commitment to the market.
“We stand ready to serve India,” Dreyer said, adding that Starlink wants to help realize Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s goal of achieving universal connectivity across the country.
Why the Starlink India Launch Has Taken Five Years
Starlink has spent more than five years trying to enter India, a market with more than a billion internet subscribers. The Starlink India launch has yet to begin commercial services despite the company securing key regulatory approvals and partnering with telecom giants Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel last year.
SpaceX has also set up a local team as it prepares for a launch, appointing former Payoneer executive Prabhakar Jayakumar to lead its India operations in December.
Starlink said it already has more than 20 gateway sites in India. These are the ground stations that link its satellites to the internet. It also has hundreds of antennas on the ground. The company says it has adapted its operations to meet the country’s regulatory, security, and data-sovereignty requirements. SpaceX has positioned its satellite network as a complement to India’s terrestrial telecom networks rather than a replacement for them.
Early Setbacks and Refunded Preorders
SpaceX first attempted to launch Starlink in India in 2021. The company had to refund preorders for its equipment in early 2022 after the Indian government called it out for “booking/rendering the satellite internet service” before getting the necessary licenses.
The Spectrum Allocation Fight
Starlink has also previously clashed with India’s largest telecom operators over how satellite spectrum should be allocated. Starlink pushed for spectrum to be assigned administratively, while Reliance Jio argued that it should be auctioned. An auction could have made Starlink’s entry more expensive. India ultimately sided with Starlink’s preferred approach, deciding to allocate satellite spectrum administratively rather than through an auction.
Jio and Airtel, India’s two biggest telecom operators, are also pursuing their own satellite internet services, even as they have agreed to distribute Starlink in India. Jio is working with satellite operator SES on satellite broadband, while Airtel is a major backer of Eutelsat OneWeb, another licensed satellite operator in India.
| Operator | Satellite Partner | Status in India |
|---|---|---|
| Starlink | SpaceX | Awaiting security clearance and spectrum |
| Reliance Jio | SES | Developing satellite broadband |
| Bharti Airtel | Eutelsat OneWeb | Licensed satellite operator |
What Comes Next for Starlink in India
The timing of the Starlink India launch remains unclear. This week, however, the company launched Starlink Mobile, which connects ordinary phones to satellites, in neighboring Bangladesh. The service represents a step forward for SpaceX’s regional ambitions even as its India plans remain on hold.
