Musk pledges affordable Starlink service in India amid dispute over launch delay
publishers 41articles 45first reported 8 Oct, 15:12 UTCdeveloping since 9 Oct · 12 editions
Elon Musk said SpaceX would price its Starlink satellite internet service affordably in India as he intensified criticism of billionaire Mukesh Ambani and the Indian government over delays to its commercial launch.
“Obviously, if Starlink is too expensive in India, no one will buy it, so SpaceX will need to make pricing affordable,” Musk wrote Saturday on X, without giving a price. He argued that greater competition would benefit Indian consumers, while reducing profits at Ambani’s market-leading Reliance Jio.
Musk had earlier sarcastically addressed Ambani as “Prime Minister Ambani” and accused him of trying to preserve his market dominance by keeping Starlink out. He said the service could connect communities without reliable internet, expand access to education and markets, and provide communications during natural disasters. Musk has not provided evidence that Ambani is responsible for the delay. Reliance has not responded publicly to his remarks.
India’s government rejected allegations of favoritism, saying its authorization system for satellite communications is fair and non-discriminatory. Officials said Starlink and two other licensed providers—Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio Satellite Communications—remain subject to security assessments and are at broadly the same regulatory stage. Spectrum can be assigned after an operator demonstrates compliance with security requirements.
The dispute comes as Jio Platforms prepares an initial public offering targeting a valuation of $106 billion. Jio’s satellite venture, like Starlink, is awaiting final security clearance before it can begin service.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 4 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 67 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 41
- Source articles
- 45
- Given to the writer
- 8, 4 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 67 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and published it as written.
Written by a language model from the sources above, then checked by a second model that may only cut, attribute or correct. How it works →