{
  "id": 13311672,
  "title": "'India has lowest data prices, lowest cost payment systems': Zoho's Sridhar Vembu responds to Elon Musk",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/10/india-has-lowest-data-prices-lowest-cost-payment-systems-zohos",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-10T03:06:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Live Mint",
    "slug": "live-mint",
    "url": "https://www.livemint.com/news/trends/india-has-lowest-data-prices-lowest-cost-payment-systems-zohos-sridhar-vembu-responds-to-elon-musk-11791600603950.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu has defended India's regulatory environment for satellite internet services, responding to Elon Musk's criticism of the country's market structure. Vembu highlighted the nation's low mobile data prices, affordable medicines, and low-cost digital payment systems, attributing these benefits to competition and government support. He credited Reliance Jio's launch with driving down data costs, noting the widespread use of dual-SIM phones and large data plans as evidence of affordability. Musk accused businesses of blocking Starlink's entry into India and questioned the delay in obtaining a license, claiming compliance with Indian laws. The Ministry of Communications dismissed Musk's claims as baseless, stating that India has a fair and non-discriminatory authorization process for satellite services.",
  "summary": "Zoho's Sridhar Vembu defended India's competitive economy and cited low mobile data prices, affordable medicines and UPI as he responded to Elon Musk's allegations that Starlink was being blocked by Indian business interests.",
  "key_points": [
    "India boasts lowest mobile data prices and affordable medicines",
    "Dual-SIM phones and large data plans demonstrate affordability",
    "Ministry of Communications dismisses Elon Musk's claims as baseless"
  ],
  "editors_take": "India's low mobile data prices and affordable digital services reflect a market driven by competition and government support, benefiting consumers and challenging assertions that the regulatory environment is restrictive.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "Graphs, Data, Perspectives | How India’s growth rate keeps beating forecasts",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/10/graphs-data-perspectives-how-indias-growth-rate-keeps-beating",
        "published": "2026-10-10T02:00:37.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}