India rejects monopoly claim in Starlink row with Ambani

India's telecom minister said the country does not allow monopolies, after Elon Musk accused Mukesh Ambani of using political influence to block Starlink's launch. The government earlier called suggestions of an unfair licensing process 'baseless and misconceived'.

India's telecom minister on Friday rejected suggestions that the country permits monopolies, pushing back after Elon Musk accused billionaire Mukesh Ambani of using political influence to block the launch of Starlink's satellite internet services.

"India does not allow a monopoly in any sector," telecom minister Jyotiraditya Scindia told a media briefing, responding to Musk's remarks.

Musk's SpaceX unit is seeking entry into a telecom market with more than a billion internet users, currently dominated by the mobile networks of Ambani's Reliance Jio and Sunil Mittal's Bharti Airtel. In a post on X on Thursday, Musk questioned why Starlink still lacked a licence despite what he said were years of compliance with Indian requirements, asking: "Is Ambani the real boss of India?" He provided no evidence against Ambani.

Reliance Jio did not respond to a request for comment on Musk's remarks.

A four-year wait to launch Starlink's satellite internet services in India has sparked heated exchanges online over business influence and regulatory delays, with Musk targeting Ambani and the political opposition joining the row. While Starlink has already secured a licence to operate in India, a commercial launch still requires it to meet security compliance conditions and receive a spectrum assignment.

On Thursday, the government said all three licensed satellite operators, including Starlink, were at broadly the same regulatory stage, calling suggestions of an unfair or discriminatory process "baseless and misconceived".