Elon Musk intensifies attack on Ambani over Starlink India launch delay
Elon Musk has escalated his criticism of Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani, accusing him of using his influence to block Starlink's entry into the Indian market. Musk claims Ambani is protecting a monopoly, while Indian officials maintain that the regulatory process is fair and ongoing.
Why it matters
The dispute highlights the geopolitical and regulatory hurdles faced by global tech giants when attempting to enter large, protected emerging markets.
As SpaceX struggles to launch Starlink in India, Elon Musk has stepped up his attack on billionaire Mukesh Ambani, mockingly calling him the country’s “prime minister” to suggest he wields outsized control over its government and accusing him of blocking the satellite internet service from competing.
On Friday, Musk continued his criticism of the famed Reliance Industries’ chairperson in a post on X, arguing that Starlink could bring internet access to areas that remain unconnected, giving children more opportunities to learn, and helping small businesses reach customers worldwide.
“Naturally, you would prefer to maintain your monopolistic exploitation of the great people of India, but would you nonetheless consider allowing Starlink to compete?” Musk wrote.
Reliance Jio, Reliance Industries’ telecom arm, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Also covering this story
7 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
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Musk goes on rant after India's sharp rebuttal: What makes Starlink controversial
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