‘Dear Prime Minister Ambani’: Elon Musk takes fresh swipe over Starlink row

Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, has taken another dig at Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani, dubbing him "Prime Minister Ambani" in a sarcastic post on X. Musk accused Ambani of prioritizing market dominance over Indian consumers, urging him to allow Starlink to enter the market. He argued that satellite internet could improve connectivity for underserved communities, enhance educational opportunities for children, and aid small businesses in reaching global markets.

Musk also highlighted Starlink's role in saving lives during natural disasters, citing its reliability when other communication systems fail. He made these remarks following accusations that unnamed business interests were blocking Starlink's launch in India to maintain their monopolistic grip on the market. The Indian Ministry of Communications refuted claims that the country's satellite communication rules were unfair, stating that a fair authorisation framework exists and companies must meet security requirements before services can commence.

Three satellite communication providers, including Starlink, have obtained telecommunications licenses in India, but Starlink has yet to begin commercial operations. Musk's latest criticism comes amid the ongoing dispute over Starlink's delayed launch in India, which is a crucial market for telecommunications services.