Elon Musk takes fresh swipe at Mukesh Ambani, alleges monopoly is holding back Starlink in India
Babushahi Bureau
Austin (Texas), October 10, 2026: SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has renewed his criticism of India’s satellite communications market, taking a direct swipe at billionaire Mukesh Ambani while questioning the hurdles facing Starlink’s planned commercial launch in the country.
In a post on X, Musk addressed Ambani sarcastically as “Prime Minister Ambani” and accused powerful business interests of seeking to maintain a monopoly. He urged India to allow Starlink to compete in the satellite internet market.
“Dear Prime Minister Ambani, Please accept my humble apologies for not realizing that you are the real boss of India,” Musk wrote, alleging that monopolistic practices were limiting competition.
Musk argued that Starlink could expand internet access in areas of India with poor or no connectivity, helping children access educational opportunities and enabling small businesses to reach global markets.
He also highlighted the role of satellite communications during natural disasters, saying Starlink had helped save lives when other communication systems failed.
Government says no monopoly in satellite communications
Musk’s remarks came after Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said India would not allow a monopoly in the satellite communications sector.
Scindia said three companies—Reliance Jio, Eutelsat OneWeb and Starlink—had obtained licences, while Amazon was also interested in entering the market and would need to complete the required process.
The minister said the government was nearing a decision on the pricing framework for satellite communication services. He added that licensed operators would have to meet security requirements and fulfil regulatory milestones before beginning commercial operations.
According to Scindia, spectrum assignment, pricing and security compliance were key steps in the process. Each operator must independently satisfy the applicable requirements before proceeding.
Starlink’s commercial launch awaits regulatory clearances
Musk has previously alleged that powerful business interests were obstructing Starlink’s entry into India despite years of efforts to comply with regulatory requirements.
The Ministry of Communications has rejected allegations of unfair treatment, maintaining that the licensed operators were at broadly similar stages of the regulatory process. Security assessments were under way, and operators would be able to pursue spectrum assignment after completing the required procedures.
Starlink’s proposed entry could introduce another competitor into India’s satellite internet market, where regulatory decisions on spectrum, pricing and security will determine when licensed providers can begin commercial services.