Reliance breaks silence as Musk questions Starlink’s india delay
Reliance responds to Elon Musk’s allegations over Starlink’s delayed India launch, saying Jio’s satellite services are also awaiting government clearance.
Reliance Industries, led by billionaire Mukesh Ambani, has responded to Musk’s allegations over Starlink’s delayed launch in India. “At Reliance, we have never feared competition,” the company said, adding that it had grown in an environment that welcomes investment and innovation from both domestic and international businesses.
Reliance emphasized that India’s regulatory approval process applies to both Indian and foreign companies. It said its own satellite services were also awaiting the necessary clearances and that Jio welcomes competition in satellite communications, including from Starlink.
The controversy began after Musk accused Indian business interests of delaying Starlink’s entry into the country, raising concerns that established telecom companies could benefit from limiting competition.
Musk has publicly questioned why Starlink has not yet received all the clearances required to begin commercial operations in India, despite obtaining preliminary authorization.
In a post on X, Musk accused unnamed business interests of attempting to prevent Starlink from entering the market. He wrote:
“Unfortunately, we are being blocked by certain oligarchs in order to maintain their monopolistic chokehold on the Indian people…This is a crime against the people of India!”
Musk later directed his criticism toward Ambani, asking:
“Is Ambani the real boss of India?”
He also sarcastically referred to Ambani as “Prime Minister Ambani” in another post, suggesting that Reliance would prefer to protect its position in India’s telecommunications market rather than allow Starlink to compete.
