Elon Musk attacks Mukesh Ambani over Starlink India delay
Elon Musk targets Reliance Industries chair Mukesh Ambani over Starlink's delayed launch in India, mocking him as the country's prime minister.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Elon Musk criticized Mukesh Ambani for allegedly blocking Starlink in India
- SpaceX has spent years trying to launch satellite internet without final approval
- Local rivals Jio and Airtel are also pushing their own satellite services
- Tesla faced slow adoption in India with only 699 vehicle registrations in year one
Elon Musk has intensified his criticism against billionaire Mukesh Ambani, mockingly referring to him as the prime minister of India to highlight his alleged outsized influence over the government and accusing him of blocking SpaceX's Starlink from entering the market.
Writing on X, Musk argued that Starlink could bridge the digital divide by bringing connectivity to unconnected regions, expanding educational opportunities for children, and enabling small businesses to reach a global customer base.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
"Naturally, you would prefer to maintain your monopolistic exploitation of the great people of India, but would you nonetheless consider allowing Starlink to compete?"
Elon Musk
SpaceX has spent years navigating regulatory hurdles to launch Starlink in India. Last year, the company secured distribution pacts with Ambani's Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel. Despite clearing key regulatory checkpoints, New Delhi has yet to grant final approval for commercial operations.
The battle for India's satellite broadband market is intensifying as domestic telecom giants forge alliances with international satellite operators. Regulatory delays serve as a critical bottleneck for foreign entrants looking to tap into one of the world's largest digital markets.
In addition to Starlink's setbacks, Musk's Tesla has encountered hurdles establishing a footprint in India. According to data cited by Electrek, Tesla registered only 699 vehicles during its initial 12 months of deliveries following its market entry last year. High import duties nearly doubled the price of the Model Y compared to its U.S. pricing, keeping the vehicles expensive despite recent price cuts.
Source: TechCrunch
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