Musk vs Reliance: A timeline of the Starlink India feud
Dubai: It all started in early October, when Elon Musk decided to vent out his frustration on his social media platform X. But what really was bothering the world’s richest man, that he had to publicly call it out? Musk was blaming unnamed ‘oligarchs’ for blocking Starlink in India Ten days of posts on X followed, where he went on to sarcastically claim Reliance chairman Mukesh Ambani to be…
The dispute between SpaceX and Reliance Industries over satellite communications in India began in early October 2026. Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, took to his social media platform X to express frustration, alleging that unnamed "oligarchs" were blocking Starlink's operations in India. Musk also made sarcastic remarks, claiming that Mukesh Ambani, chairman of Reliance Industries, was effectively running the country.
His posts quickly gained support from opposition leaders, who seized the opportunity to criticize Musk without offering a clear solution.
In response, Reliance Industries posted on X on October 16, stating that they welcomed competition and had "never feared" rivals. The conflict put SpaceX's satellite arm in direct opposition to Jio, India's largest mobile operator, which also awaits clearances for its satellite services. Both sides disagreed on the method of granting spectrum, with SpaceX advocating for administrative allocation and Reliance pushing for an auction.
In 2024, the Indian government sided with SpaceX, arguing that satellite spectrum is shared and therefore cannot be auctioned.
Following a lengthy exchange of posts and statements on X, SpaceX and Reliance Industries softened their stances. In March 2025, Jio and Airtel announced deals to stock Starlink equipment. The telecoms ministry issued a license to Starlink on June 6, 2025, and the space regulator IN-SPACe followed suit on July 9, 2025. Despite obtaining the necessary licenses, Starlink has not been allowed to operate in India, leading Musk to question why Ambani remains the "real boss" of India.
Reliance responded on October 16, emphasizing that the government applies a uniform process to all applicants, regardless of nationality, and that all players, including Starlink, must adhere to the country's laws.
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