Starlink India’s planned satellite internet service has become the centre of a fresh public dispute after Elon Musk said SpaceX would price the service affordably, while accusing the government and Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani of delaying its entry to protect Jio.
Musk made the remarks on his social media platform X, saying that Starlink would need affordable pricing because “if Starlink is too expensive in India, no one will buy it”. He also argued that competition would give Indian consumers more choice, while stating that lower profits would not threaten Ambani’s business.
The comments came days before Jio Platforms, the parent company of Reliance’s telecom business, is expected to launch what has been described as India’s largest-ever initial public offering. Jio Platforms is targeting a valuation of $106 billion in the offering.
Jio’s satellite internet venture and SpaceX-owned Starlink are both awaiting final security clearance before beginning operations in India. The government has denied bias in the approval process and said that all three satellite ventures seeking to launch in the country are awaiting the same stage of security clearance.
Musk’s latest remarks mark a sharper public confrontation with Ambani than his earlier comments on Starlink’s proposed entry. In a post late on Friday, he addressed Ambani as “Prime Minister Ambani” and asked whether he would consider allowing Starlink to compete in India. Reliance has not responded to requests for comment on the remarks.
The dispute comes as satellite broadband companies seek access to one of the world’s largest internet markets. India’s mobile data prices are already among the lowest globally, at about 8 cents per gigabyte, according to the report. That pricing environment could make affordability a central issue for any satellite service seeking customers beyond areas served by conventional mobile and fixed-line networks.
Starlink’s proposed service would add another technology and infrastructure option to India’s connectivity market, but its commercial launch remains subject to regulatory approval. The security clearance process is the immediate milestone for Starlink, Jio’s satellite venture and the third applicant identified in the report.
