Elon Musk has questioned whether Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani is the “real boss of India” as the SpaceX-owned satellite internet service Starlink awaits final government approval to launch in the country, according to a BBC report.
The remarks have intensified a growing dispute over India’s satellite internet market, where Ambani’s Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel are also preparing to expand their services.
Musk first accused unnamed powerful business interests of maintaining a “monopolistic chokehold” on Indian consumers and attempting to block Starlink’s entry into the market. He described the alleged obstruction as “a crime against the people of India” in a post on X.
On Thursday, Musk directly questioned Ambani’s influence, writing: “Starlink is licensed in over 165 countries and has spent five years complying with every single law and requirement of the government of India, so why still no license? Is Ambani the real boss of India?”
India’s Ministry of Communications rejected the allegations, saying the country’s regulatory framework was fair and non-discriminatory.
The ministry said Starlink, Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio Satellite Communications were at broadly the same stage of the approval process, with all three awaiting security clearances and spectrum allocation before launching commercial services.
“The suggestion that the framework or its application is unfair or discriminatory is baseless and misconceived,” the ministry said.
Ambani and Reliance Group have not publicly responded to Musk’s remarks, the BBC reported.
The dispute comes as major technology and telecommunications companies compete for a share of India’s vast internet market. Starlink uses satellites in low Earth orbit to provide internet access, particularly in remote areas where conventional broadband and mobile networks are difficult or expensive to establish.
Despite their rivalry, Starlink has also partnered with its potential competitors. In March 2025, Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel signed agreements with SpaceX to distribute Starlink equipment and services in India, subject to government approval. The companies also indicated that they could explore sharing network infrastructure.
At the India Mobile Congress in New Delhi, Akash Ambani, chairman of Reliance Jio Infocomm and Mukesh Ambani’s son, said the company was developing its own satellite communications technology and working towards regulatory approvals.
Asked about Musk’s allegations, Akash declined to comment directly, saying: “We want to be heads down and deliver value to our Indian consumers.”
Bharti Airtel chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal also said his company’s satellite venture was awaiting government approval.
Lauren Dreyer, a SpaceX executive overseeing Starlink’s business operations, said the company had spent years working with Indian regulators and had incorporated security controls into its network to meet the country’s requirements.
Security concerns have been a significant issue surrounding Starlink’s proposed entry into India. In 2024, Indian authorities reported recovering Starlink equipment during a drug-smuggling investigation in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and an army operation in Manipur.
Musk said at the time that Starlink’s service had never been active in India, arguing that the recovered equipment could not have been using its satellite network.
Affordability is another concern. Although India is one of the world’s largest internet markets, access remains uneven, particularly in remote regions.
Musk has argued that Starlink could help bridge the digital divide by providing high-speed internet to people who lack reliable connections or cannot afford existing services. However, the company has yet to announce its prices for India.
In the United States, Starlink’s residential plans start at $55 a month, although prices and equipment costs vary by plan and location. Experts have questioned whether similar pricing would be affordable for many Indian households.