Musk Accuses Ambani and Jio of Blocking Starlink's India Launch; Delhi Pushes Back

Elon Musk publicly accused unnamed Indian business figures of obstructing Starlink's entry into the country's telecom market on October 8, 2026, then singled out Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani by name in a follow-up post on X, according to reporting carried by Reuters and The Next Web.

What Musk Said

Musk said Starlink was being blocked by unnamed oligarchs seeking to protect what he called a monopoly over the Indian public, according to Reuters and The Next Web. Musk did not present evidence to support the allegation against Ambani, both outlets reported.

India's Response

India's government said on October 9 that any suggestion the regulatory framework or its application is unfair or discriminatory is baseless, adding that three licensed satellite operators — Starlink, Reliance Jio's satellite arm Jio Satcom, and Eutelsat's OneWeb India — are at broadly the same stage of approval and all face the same security checks, Reuters reported via Investing.com.

Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia told reporters on October 9 that the country does not permit a monopoly in any sector, addressing Musk's remarks directly, according to the same Reuters report. Reliance Jio did not respond to a request for comment on Musk's allegation, Reuters said.

Why Starlink Still Isn't Commercially Live in India

SpaceX has sought regulatory approval to operate Starlink in India since 2022, according to The Next Web. The company secured a satellite operating licence in 2025, per The Next Web and Medianama, but commercial service still requires a formal spectrum assignment and security clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs. The Next Web reported that security-related delays intensified after Starlink's satellite service was activated without authorisation in Iran in June.

On September 3, 2026, India's Digital Communications Commission approved most of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's recommendations on satellite spectrum, opting to assign spectrum administratively rather than through an auction, Medianama reported. The commission backed a five-year spectrum assignment with an option for a two-year extension, and the Department of Telecommunications favoured an annual fee of 5% of adjusted gross revenue — higher than the 4% TRAI had recommended, with a lower 4% rate for rural and remote services. Formal cabinet approval of the pricing framework, the spectrum assignment itself, and Home Ministry security clearance all remain pending, according to Medianama.

Musk's Wider Friction With India

The Starlink dispute follows separate strain between Musk and Indian authorities over Tesla. India's Minister of Heavy Industries, H.D. Kumaraswamy, confirmed on May 19, 2026 that Tesla had informed the government it would not build a manufacturing plant in India, according to Teslarati. The talks had stalled over India's requirement that automakers commit at least $500 million to local manufacturing within three years to qualify for reduced import duties, cut from 110% to 15% on EVs priced above $35,000; Tesla sought tariff relief first, Teslarati reported. Musk cancelled a planned visit to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in April 2024, and Tesla executives stopped engaging with Indian officials by July 2024, per the same report. Tesla continues to sell imported Model Y vehicles through showrooms in India, including in Mumbai, according to Teslarati.

Jio and Bharti Airtel, which together account for roughly 80% of India's telecom subscribers according to The Next Web, had previously agreed to distribute Starlink terminals at retail outlets. That retail arrangement has since soured, The Next Web reported, without specifying a reason.

What Remains Unclear

• Musk has not provided public evidence that Ambani personally influenced the regulatory process, per Reuters.
• Reliance has not issued a public statement responding to Musk's claim, according to Reuters.
• No date has been set for the Union Cabinet to approve the satellite spectrum pricing framework, per Medianama.
• SpaceX has not published its own timeline for when Starlink might begin commercial service in India.