Author: Nishtha Mehrotra | EQMint
Elon Musk has questioned Mukesh Ambani’s influence over Starlink’s entry into India after the government rejected allegations of bias in the satellite internet company’s approval process. The exchange has brought renewed attention to the regulatory hurdles delaying Starlink’s commercial launch in the country.
Musk Questions Ambani
In a post on X on October 8, 2026, Musk said Starlink was licensed in more than 165 countries and questioned why it had not received the approvals required to begin operations in India despite years of compliance efforts.
He asked whether Ambani was the “real boss of India”, following his earlier allegation that unnamed business interests were attempting to protect their market positions. Musk did not provide evidence establishing that Reliance Industries or Ambani had influenced the approval process.
Government Rejects Allegations of Bias
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) said India’s regulatory framework for satellite communication services was fair and non-discriminatory. It stated that security assessments were underway for all three licensed operators: Starlink, Reliance Jio’s satellite venture and Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb.
According to the government, each operator must meet the applicable security requirements before proceeding to the next stage of spectrum assignment.
Starlink’s India Launch Remains Pending
Starlink has been preparing to enter the Indian market for several years and has invested in local infrastructure. However, the company still faces outstanding regulatory requirements before it can begin commercial services.
The dispute highlights the growing competition in India’s satellite broadband market, where Starlink, Jio Satcom and Eutelsat OneWeb are pursuing opportunities to provide connectivity, including in remote and underserved regions. The timing of Starlink’s commercial launch remains uncertain.
Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes only and is not investment advice.
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