Elon Musk Questions Whether Mukesh Ambani Is the “Real Boss of India” as Starlink Approval Stalls

Elon Musk has questioned whether billionaire Mukesh Ambani is the “real boss of India” as his satellite internet company, Starlink, waits for final approval to launch commercial services in the country.

The comments came a day after Musk accused unnamed powerful business interests of trying to block Starlink’s expansion into India. He later singled out Ambani, whose Reliance conglomerate owns Jio, India’s largest mobile network operator.

India has rejected Musk’s claims, saying its satellite communication rules are fair and non-discriminatory.

India rejects Musk’s claims about Starlink approval

India’s Ministry of Telecommunications said Starlink, Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio Satellite Communications are at roughly the same stage of the approval process. All three companies are awaiting security clearances and spectrum allocation before they can launch commercial services.

The ministry did not name Musk directly, but said: “Any suggestion that the framework or its application is unfair or discriminatory is unfounded and misconceived.”

Musk said Starlink was already licensed in more than 165 countries and continued to question why its Indian approval was taking so long.

“Starlink is licensed in over 165 countries and has spent five years complying with all laws and Indian government requirements, so why is it still not licensed? Is Ambani the real boss of India?” he wrote on X on Thursday.

Musk accuses “oligarchs” of protecting a monopoly

Musk first made the accusation on Wednesday, claiming that “some oligarchs” were maintaining “monopolistic control” over Indian consumers.

“You can guess who they are,” he said. He added that blocking Starlink was a “crime against the people of India” in a post on X.

Ambani and Reliance Group have not responded to Musk’s comments. The BBC has contacted them for comment.

Starlink faces competition from Jio and Airtel

The dispute comes as competition intensifies in India’s satellite internet market. Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel are also preparing to launch satellite internet services.

The situation is further complicated by Starlink’s existing partnerships with both Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel. In March 2025, the companies signed agreements with SpaceX to sell Starlink equipment and services in India, subject to government approval.

The companies also said they may consider sharing network infrastructure. The BBC has contacted Bharti Airtel for comment.

How Starlink satellite internet works

Starlink, owned by Musk’s SpaceX, uses satellites in low Earth orbit to provide internet access. The service is particularly aimed at 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 licenses. However, final security clearances and spectrum allocation are still required before commercial services can begin.