SpaceX founder Elon Musk has accused unnamed “vested interests” in India of obstructing the launch of its Starlink satellite internet service, characterizing the delay as a deliberate effort to maintain monopolistic control over consumers.
Speaking on social media platform X on Wednesday, Musk stated, “We are being blocked by certain oligarchs in order to maintain their monopolistic chokehold on the Indian people.” He added that the company could infer who the rivals are without him explicitly naming them. Musk described the obstruction as “a crime against the people of India,” arguing that Starlink aims to provide high-speed, affordable connectivity to those priced out of current services.
The Indian telecommunications sector is heavily concentrated, with Mukesh Ambani’s Jio and Sunil Mittal’s Bharti Airtel dominating the market. Together, the two operators hold more than 80% of the market share, according to recent data from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. Jio, in particular, has been credited with significantly reducing mobile data costs since its inception nearly a decade ago.
Despite these competitive dynamics, SpaceX entered into memorandums of understanding with both Jio and Airtel last year to facilitate the rollout of Starlink services across the country. However, reports indicate little tangible progress has been made toward an actual launch.
Lauren Dreyer, SpaceX’s Vice President of Starlink business operations, addressed the situation at the India Mobile Congress on Wednesday. She revealed that 11,000 Starlink satellites are currently in orbit, serving users in over 170 countries. Dreyer emphasized that the company has been working in India for years to bridge the digital divide through partnerships with government entities and private firms, specifically referencing the MOUs signed with Airtel and Reliance Jio.
Meanwhile, Jio Platforms recently announced plans in June to deploy low-orbit satellite communications within India. Akash Ambani, son of Mukesh Ambani, told shareholders during the company’s annual meeting that Jio is partnering with global constellation providers to lease satellite capacity, aiming for a swift rollout of satellite connectivity.
Regulatory hurdles also remain. In June, Bloomberg reported that New Delhi regulators had frozen Starlink approvals due to security concerns regarding the potential misuse of terminals, despite the service not yet being licensed. SpaceX has denied any security risks. CNBC has reached out to Bharti Airtel and Reliance Industries for comment regarding the ongoing delays.
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