Starlink entry row: Is Ambani the real boss of India, asks Elon Musk
Elon Musk has raised concerns about regulatory obstacles facing Starlink's introduction in India. He claimed influential figures might be hindering the process and questioned if Ambani controls the situation. In response, India's government reaffirmed its fair and non-discriminatory approach, rejecting Musk's allegations. Other companies like Reliance Jio and Eutelsat OneWeb are also vying for…
New Delhi witnessed a heated terrestrial battle over satellite communication (satcom) services when Elon Musk queried on X, "Is Ambani the real boss of India," shortly after the government denied his claim that certain oligarchs were obstructing Starlink's entry into India. Following Musk's initial statement, Congress MP and leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi responded on X, "Welcome to India, Elon. Wait till you discover the other guy."
Musk's comments followed the Department of Telecom's rejection of his claims, stating that India's regulatory framework for satellite communication services is fair and non-discriminatory. The government mentioned that security assessments are currently underway for all three entities: Sunil Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb, Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Jio, and Starlink. They are all at a similar regulatory stage, and as soon as a licensed entity completes this process, it may proceed to seek spectrum assignment.
Unfazed by the backlash, Musk continued his attack on X, questioning why Starlink, which is licensed in over 165 countries and has spent five years complying with Indian laws and regulations, still lacks a license. He also questioned whether Ambani is indeed the real boss of India.
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi joined the controversy by responding to Musk on X, "Welcome to India, Elon. Wait till you discover the other guy." Musk then retorted, "Thank you, Rahul. This is indeed troubling."
Musk further emphasized the potential benefits of Starlink for India, stating on X that people who oppose the service only hurt the least-served. He claimed that the wealthy or those living in large cities already have good internet and do not understand the challenges faced by those with poor or no internet and mobile coverage. Musk highlighted that Starlink can fill the coverage gaps for those who most need it.
Bharti Airtel chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal revealed that his satcom venture, Eutelsat OneWeb, is also awaiting approvals to commence operations. Reliance Jio chairman Akash Ambani stated that his company is making "rapid progress" but did not provide a specific timeline for the launch of its satellite communication services. He assured that every Indian home will eventually have a broadband connection connected to the internet.
Written by urgent.news from Times of India's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
