Elon Musk challenges Mukesh Ambani over stalled Starlink launch in India

The dispute centers on a five-year struggle to bring Starlink to a market of over one billion subscribers. While SpaceX has secured key regulatory approvals and appointed local leadership, the service remains sidelined despite significant infrastructure investments, including twenty gateway sites and hundreds of ground antennas. Musk characterized the delay as a crime against the Indian public, arguing that his satellite network is essential for closing the country's digital divide.

India’s Ministry of Communications dismissed the allegations, asserting that its regulatory framework is fair and non-discriminatory. Officials stated that Starlink is currently undergoing standard security assessments alongside other licensed operators. This bureaucratic hurdle follows a long-standing disagreement over spectrum allocation; while the government eventually opted for administrative assignment—a victory for SpaceX—major domestic players like Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel continue to push their own satellite broadband initiatives. As the company waits for final authorization, the timeline for commercial operations in India remains undefined.