India Rejects Musk’s Allegation That Powerful Interests Are Blocking Starlink

India has dismissed billionaire Elon Musk’s allegation that unnamed powerful business interests are deliberately preventing his Starlink satellite internet service from launching commercially in the country.

Musk, the founder of SpaceX and CEO of Tesla, made the accusation in a post on X on Wednesday, claiming that “certain oligarchs” were working to prevent Starlink from entering the Indian market.

According to Musk, the move was aimed at allowing unnamed individuals and companies to maintain what he described as a “monopolistic chokehold” over the Indian people. He further described the alleged interference as a “crime against the people of India.”

However, India’s Ministry of Communications rejected the accusation, insisting that the country’s regulatory framework for satellite communication services is transparent, fair and non-discriminatory.

“The suggestion that the framework or its application is unfair or discriminatory is baseless and misconceived,” the ministry said in a statement issued on Thursday.

Although the statement did not specifically mention Musk or Starlink, it was widely understood as a response to the billionaire’s comments.

The ministry also stated that three satellite internet operators are currently at broadly similar stages of the regulatory process and are undergoing mandatory security assessments.

This, it said, demonstrates that the approval process is being applied consistently rather than targeting any particular company.

India’s telecommunications market is dominated by major operators including Reliance Jio, owned by billionaire Mukesh Ambani, and Bharti Airtel, led by Sunil Mittal. Both companies have also shown interest in the rapidly developing satellite internet sector.

The two companies have secured initial approvals for their satellite internet ventures but are still awaiting final regulatory clearances.

Their involvement has added to the competition surrounding access to India’s growing broadband and communications market.

Musk has previously been involved in disagreements with Ambani and Mittal over how satellite spectrum should be allocated in India. Starlink has been seeking permission to provide commercial services in the country since 2022.

In 2025, the company obtained a key licence from India’s Communications Ministry to provide satellite communication services and also received approval from the country’s space regulator.

Despite these developments, Starlink has yet to fully commence commercial operations.

Security concerns have also emerged around the use of Starlink equipment in India.

In 2024, Indian authorities reported finding Starlink devices during a drug seizure operation in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and during a separate military operation in Manipur.

Following those incidents, Musk claimed that Starlink’s satellite signals had been switched off over India. He also suggested that the service had not actually been operational in the country at the time.

The latest exchange between Musk and Indian authorities underscores the regulatory and commercial challenges facing satellite internet companies seeking access to India’s huge telecommunications market.

While Starlink has continued to push for approval, Indian authorities maintain that security checks and regulatory requirements must be completed before any operator can begin full commercial operations.

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