As SpaceX struggles to launch Starlink in India, Elon Musk has stepped up his attack on billionaire Mukesh Ambani, mockingly calling him the country\u2019s \u201cprime minister\u201d to suggest he wields outsized control over its government and accusing him of blocking the satellite internet service from competing.<\/p>\n
On Friday, Musk continued<\/a> his criticism of the famed Reliance Industries\u2019 chairperson in a post on X, arguing that Starlink could bring internet access to areas that remain unconnected, giving children more opportunities to learn, and helping small businesses reach customers worldwide.<\/p>\n \u201cNaturally, you would prefer to maintain your monopolistic exploitation of the great people of India, but would you nonetheless consider allowing Starlink to compete?\u201d Musk wrote.<\/p>\n Reliance Jio, Reliance Industries\u2019 telecom arm, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n Musk\u2019s latest comments follow his accusations<\/a> earlier this week that unnamed \u201coligarchs\u201d were blocking Starlink\u2019s launch in India to protect their business interests. India\u2019s Ministry of Communications rejected the allegations, saying the country\u2019s regulatory framework for satellite communications is \u201cfair and non-discriminatory.\u201d Musk then went further on Thursday, questioning Ambani\u2019s influence in a separate post on X. \u201cIs Ambani the real boss of India?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n SpaceX has spent years trying to launch Starlink in India. Last year, it even struck distribution agreements<\/a> with Ambani\u2019s Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, India\u2019s second-largest telecom operator, to offer the service once it received the necessary approvals. However, Starlink has not yet received the go-ahead from New Delhi to begin commercial operations, despite securing key regulatory clearances<\/a>.<\/p>\n In its Thursday statement, the Indian communication ministry said Starlink and two other licensed satellite operators are undergoing security assessments that must be completed before they can receive satellite spectrum. The ministry said all three are at \u201cbroadly the same regulatory stage,\u201d rejecting Musk\u2019s suggestion that Starlink was being singled out.<\/p>\n Jio and Airtel are also seeking to launch their satellite internet services<\/a> in India. Jio has a joint venture with Luxembourg-based SES, while Airtel is a major shareholder in Eutelsat OneWeb, which is striving to offer satellite connectivity in the country.<\/p>\n India, the world\u2019s most populous country with over a billion internet users, is a major market for Musk. But expanding there also means dealing with powerful business figures such as Ambani, whose Reliance conglomerate owns India\u2019s largest telecom operator and works<\/a> with Prime Minister Narendra Modi\u2019s government on major projects.<\/p>\n Alongside Starlink\u2019s delayed launch, Musk has also faced challenges expanding Tesla in India. The electric carmaker launched<\/a> in the country last year after years of anticipation but registered just 699 vehicles<\/a> in its first 12 months of deliveries, according to data cited by Electrek. Steep import duties pushed the Model Y\u2019s launch price in India to nearly twice its U.S. price<\/a>. Tesla lowered its prices earlier this year, but its cars remain considerably more expensive in India than in the U.S.<\/p>\n Before Musk\u2019s latest attack, Starlink and Ambani\u2019s Reliance Jio clashed over how to allocate satellite spectrum in India. Musk\u2019s company wanted the spectrum to be assigned through an administrative process, while Jio pushed for an auction. Ultimately, New Delhi went ahead with Starlink and decided<\/a> to allocate the spectrum administratively.<\/p>\n Starlink\u2019s launch in India remains in limbo. India\u2019s telecom minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Friday pushed back<\/a> against Musk\u2019s allegations, saying the country \u201cdoes not allow a monopoly in any sector.\u201d<\/p>\n