Elon Musk Takes Aim at Mukesh Ambani Over Starlink License Controversy

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Himanshu Tiwari

Elon Musk Takes Aim at Mukesh Ambani Over Starlink License Controversy

New Delhi, October 9 (Daily Kiran) : Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, has once again targeted billionaire Mukesh Ambani regarding Starlink’s entry into India. In a post on the social media platform X, Musk referred to Ambani as “Dear Prime Minister Ambani” and accused him of attempting to maintain a monopoly in the telecommunications sector. He questioned whether Ambani would allow Starlink to compete in the Indian market.

Musk’s post stated, “Dear Prime Minister Ambani, please accept my humble apologies for not realizing you are the true boss of India.” He further asserted that Ambani would naturally want to exploit the Indian populace monopolistically but posed the question of whether he would consider permitting Starlink to operate competitively.

Highlighting the gaps in internet access across India, Musk remarked that many areas lack connectivity, depriving children of educational opportunities and small businesses of access to global markets. He emphasized that Starlink could significantly improve lives in these regions.

Musk pointed out that Starlink has proven essential in saving lives during natural disasters worldwide when other communication systems have failed. He urged that allowing Starlink to operate would also help save lives across India.

Previously, Musk expressed frustration over the lack of final approval for Starlink’s commercial operations in India, claiming that the satellite internet company has spent five years complying with local laws and regulations. He hinted at unnamed billionaires obstructing Starlink’s entry into the market, suggesting that powerful business interests are trying to protect their positions in India’s telecommunications sector.

In response, the Indian government reprimanded Musk for his allegations about the hindrance of satellite communications and clarified that compliance with security standards is mandatory for all satellite communication licensees in the country.

Just hours after the government’s response, Musk took to X again to question whether Ambani is indeed the true boss of India. This comment followed a post arguing that Starlink could help expand internet access in areas where traditional telecom infrastructure is challenging or costly to establish.

Starlink has secured a license to provide satellite communication services in India but still requires security approvals and other permissions before launching commercially. The government has dismissed claims that Starlink faces a discriminatory regulatory environment, labeling such assertions as baseless and misleading.

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