Elon Musk has intensified his public criticism over Starlink’s pending India entry, accusing Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani of trying to preserve a monopoly and asking whether the satellite internet service will be allowed to compete in the country. The remarks came as the Union government said no sector would be allowed to operate as a monopoly and that licensing would proceed after required security and data-protection clearances.
In a post on X on Friday, Musk addressed Ambani as “Prime Minister Ambani” and wrote that he was sorry for not realising that Ambani was the “real boss of India”. He alleged that Ambani would prefer to continue what he described as monopolistic exploitation, while asking whether Starlink would nevertheless be given an opportunity to compete.
Musk also said that several parts of India, as in other countries, still lack internet access. According to his post, this deprives children in those areas of educational opportunities and prevents small businesses from reaching global markets. He claimed that Starlink could improve access for people living in locations where conventional broadband and mobile networks have limited reach.
The latest post followed another intervention by Musk a day earlier, when he questioned whether Ambani was the “real boss” of India in response to a social-media post by Dr Aniruddha. That post alleged that the government was protecting a system that benefited business groups at the expense of Indian citizens. Musk said Starlink had received licences in 165 countries and questioned why it had not received an Indian licence despite, according to his claim, complying with required rules and conditions for five years.
Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia responded to the wider controversy by saying that India does not permit monopolies in any sector. The government’s position, as reported, is that the licensing process for Starlink will move forward transparently once all security and data-protection clearances have been completed.
The approval process involves conditions related to national security, lawful monitoring and the handling of user data. According to the report, the Ministry of Home Affairs and defence agencies have required that data belonging to Indian users be processed and stored within India. Agencies are also reviewing Starlink’s inter-satellite laser links as part of their security assessment.
The reported regulatory requirements include the establishment of 20 local gateway stations in India. These facilities would allow authorities to monitor or block traffic during an emergency, according to the report. The condition illustrates why satellite internet licensing involves more than allocating spectrum or approving a commercial service: the government must also establish how a cross-border communications network can meet domestic surveillance, data and emergency-control requirements.
Starlink is operated by SpaceX and uses a satellite network to provide internet connectivity, particularly in areas where terrestrial broadband or mobile infrastructure is difficult to deploy. Its possible Indian entry has therefore become part of a broader debate about how the country should close connectivity gaps while maintaining regulatory control over critical communications infrastructure.
The immediate dispute remains unresolved. Musk has publicly pressed for competition and faster approval, while the government has tied the licensing decision to security and data-protection clearances. The next formal milestone will be the completion of those reviews and the authorities’ decision on whether Starlink has met the conditions required to begin operations in India.
