Elon Musk publicly criticized Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani amid delays in launching SpaceX’s Starlink internet service in India. Musk expressed frustration that despite spending five years meeting all regulatory requirements, Starlink has not been permitted to operate in the country. He accused some Indian oligarchs, implicitly referring to Ambani, of exerting monopolistic control that has stifled competition and delayed the introduction of Starlink’s satellite internet offerings.

Musk’s remarks sparked a political reaction in India, with opposition leader Rahul Gandhi highlighting longstanding concerns about government favoritism towards powerful business figures like Ambani and Gautam Adani. Gandhi suggested these influential industrialists have undue influence over Indian policy, a point Musk acknowledged as troubling. Ambani-led Reliance Industries did not provide a response when contacted by CNBC regarding Musk’s comments.

The hold-up in Starlink’s launch comes despite partnerships signed last year with Jio Platforms, Ambani’s telecom giant, and Airtel to expand satellite internet across India. While Starlink received a license to operate in India mid-2025, New Delhi reportedly froze approvals due to security worries related to the company’s satellite terminals. Meanwhile, Jio is independently advancing plans for its own satellite network, intending to deploy about 1,600 low-earth orbit satellites and 23 ground stations as part of a broader connectivity push.

Starlink has a far larger satellite constellation of over 11,000 satellites serving more than 170 countries, but its India rollout remains stalled for now. The article also notes Tesla’s tepid sales performance since launching in India last year, underscoring Musk’s broader challenges entering the market. Ambani’s son Akash emphasized the need for indigenous technology stacks in India, signaling Reliance’s ambition to build homegrown solutions rather than rely on foreign providers like Starlink.