India Rejects Musk’s Claims of Bias as Starlink Awaits Final Clearances
publishers 21articles 26first reported 8 Oct, 02:55 UTCdeveloping since 8 Oct · 20 editions
India’s telecom minister rejected Elon Musk’s suggestion that powerful business interests were blocking Starlink’s launch, saying Friday that the country does not allow monopolies in any sector.
Musk had accused unnamed “oligarchs” of maintaining a “monopolistic chokehold” on Indian consumers before singling out Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani. In a Thursday post on X, Musk asked whether Ambani was the “real boss of India” and why Starlink still lacked final approval after, he said, spending five years complying with Indian requirements.
India’s communications authorities called allegations of unfair or discriminatory treatment “baseless and misconceived.” The government said Starlink, Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio Satellite Communications were at broadly the same stage of the approval process. Although Starlink has secured key authorisations, it must demonstrate compliance with security conditions and receive spectrum allocation before beginning commercial service.
Reliance Jio did not respond to requests for comment, while its chairman, Akash Ambani, declined to address Musk’s remarks. Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel signed agreements with SpaceX in 2025 to distribute Starlink equipment and services in India, subject to government approval.
The dispute also drew political responses. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi told Musk, “Welcome to India,” adding, “Wait till you discover the other guy,” an apparent reference to billionaire Gautam Adani. Actor-politician Kamal Haasan said no billionaire should dictate national policy, while supporting affordable competition subject to security safeguards.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 5 with the publisher's own text; 7 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 36 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
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- Source articles
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- Given to the writer
- 8, 5 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 7
- This version written
- 36 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
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- passed
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