Elon Musk has publicly criticized Mukesh Ambani, the chairperson of Reliance Industries, over the delayed launch of Starlink in India. Musk accused Ambani of using his influence to block the satellite internet service from entering the market to protect his business interests.
SpaceX has been working to launch Starlink in India for years, despite having previously signed distribution agreements with Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel. The company has secured some regulatory clearances but still lacks the final approval from New Delhi to begin commercial operations.
The Indian Ministry of Communications stated that Starlink and two other operators are currently undergoing security assessments for satellite spectrum. The ministry rejected claims that Starlink is being singled out, noting that all three companies are at a similar regulatory stage.
The conflict also involves disagreements over spectrum allocation. While SpaceX advocated for an administrative assignment process, Reliance Jio pushed for an auction. The government ultimately decided to proceed with administrative allocation.
Beyond Starlink, Musk faces challenges with Tesla in India. Since launching last year, the company registered 699 vehicles in its first 12 months. High import duties have kept prices for models like the Model Y significantly higher than in the United States.
