Elon Musk has questioned whether billionaire Mukesh Ambani is the “real boss of India” as his satellite internet company Starlink struggles to secure final approval to launch in the country.
The remark came a day after Musk accused unnamed powerful business interests of trying to block Starlink’s entry into India. He then singled out Ambani, whose Reliance conglomerate owns Jio, India’s biggest mobile network operator.
India has rejected Musk’s allegations, saying its satellite communications rules are fair and non-discriminatory.
Ambani and Reliance Group have not responded to Musk’s remarks. The BBC has reached out to them for comment
The row comes as competition grows in India’s satellite internet market, with Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel also preparing to launch services.
The rivalry is complicated by the fact that Starlink has also partnered with Ambani’s Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel.
In March 2025, both companies signed agreements with SpaceX to distribute Starlink equipment and services in India, subject to government approval. The companies also said they could explore sharing network infrastructure. The BBC has also reached out to Bharti Airtel for comment.
Musk first made the allegations on Wednesday, accusing “certain oligarchs” of maintaining a “monopolistic chokehold” on Indian consumers.
“You can guess who they are,” he wrote on X, external, adding that blocking Starlink was “a crime against the people of India”.
On Thursday, India’s Ministry of Communications responded, saying that three operators – 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 they can launch commercial services.
“The suggestion that the framework or its application is unfair or discriminatory is baseless and misconceived,” the ministry said, without naming Musk directly.
Musk continued to question the delay, saying Starlink was already licensed in more than 165 countries.
“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?” he wrote on X on Thursday.
Starlink, owned by Musk’s SpaceX, uses satellites in low Earth orbit to provide internet access, particularly in remote areas where mobile networks and broadband cables are difficult or expensive to install.
The company has been trying to enter India since 2021 and has secured key licences. But it still needs final security clearances and spectrum allocation before it can begin commercial services.
