Elon Musk has taken a fresh swipe at India's billionaire Mukesh Ambani over the delay in launching Starlink's satellite internet services in India, questioning whether the Reliance Industries chairman has excessive influence over the country's telecom sector.
In a post on X, Musk addressed the Indian government sarcastically, writing, "Dear Prime Minister Ambani," before apologising for not recognising him as "the real boss of India".
"Dear Prime Minister Ambani, Please accept my humble apologies for not realizing that you are the real boss of India," he wrote.
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"Naturally, you would prefer to maintain your monopolistic exploitation of the great people of India, but would you nonetheless consider allowing Starlink to compete?," he added.
He argued that satellite internet could help bridge India's digital divide by providing connectivity to remote areas, where children lack access to educational opportunities and small businesses struggle to reach global markets.
"There are many areas of India, as there are in all countries, with no Internet access, which denies children the opportunity for education and for small businesses the opportunity to sell their goods to a global market. Starlink would change their lives for the better," Musk concluded.
Musk has previously alleged that unnamed "oligarchs" are obstructing Starlink's entry into India to protect their market positions.
He claimed that the company has spent five years complying with India's laws and regulations but is still awaiting final approvals to begin commercial operations. He has not provided evidence that any individual or company is deliberately blocking its entry.
He also claimed that his company has proven to be essential for saving lives during natural disasters around the world.
Why Does Starlink Want India?
India represents a shining opportunity for satellite broadband providers because internet connectivity remains unevenly distributed between urban and rural areas. According to data released by the Ministry of Communications, India had around 1.093 billion internet subscribers in March 2026. However, rural internet density stood at 48.31 connections per 100 people, compared with 126.80 in urban areas.
Starlink, operated by Musk's SpaceX, aims to provide satellite-based internet connectivity, particularly in remote locations where conventional mobile networks and fibre infrastructure may be difficult or expensive to deploy.
The company has been preparing for a potential launch in India and has worked on infrastructure and security requirements. However, it still needs to complete the necessary regulatory processes before it can begin commercial services.
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Government Rejects Claims Of Favouritism
The Indian government has rejected allegations that powerful business interests are preventing Starlink from entering the market. Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has said that India does not permit monopolies and that satellite communication operators must meet the required security and regulatory conditions.
Starlink, Reliance Jio's satellite venture and Eutelsat OneWeb, backed by Bharti Airtel, have been navigating the approval process. Security clearances and the framework for satellite spectrum allocation remain key requirements before commercial operations can begin.
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