Elon Musk hits out at ‘oligarchs’ for blocking Starlink in India

SpaceX founder Elon Musk has criticized unnamed "oligarchs" for obstructing the launch of Starlink, a satellite internet service, in India. In a post on X, Musk alleged that the satellite internet provider is being halted to sustain their monopolistic control over the Indian populace. He did not specify any individuals, but the claims have not been officially confirmed.

Musk did not provide a timeline for when Starlink might finally commence operations in India. The company has received a license to offer satellite internet services in the country but is still awaiting security clearances and spectrum band allocation. According to Bloomberg, SpaceX has constructed 20 gateway sites and developed India-specific security controls, ready to start commercial services once the necessary permissions are granted.

In his statement, Musk accused the oligarchs of committing a crime against the Indian people, emphasizing that the situation is unacceptable. Earlier, he addressed a post that argued the necessity of Starlink for providing faster internet access to remote areas where phone towers and fiber cables are difficult to establish. Musk went on to say that the service would offer fast and affordable internet to those who cannot afford the current prices or have no connection at all. However, neither Reliance Jio nor Bharti Airtel responded to requests for comment from Bloomberg.