Elon Musk has pledged to make Starlink’s satellite internet service affordable in India, directly challenging billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s telecommunications empire just days before Reliance Jio’s parent company prepares for what could become the country’s largest-ever stock market offering. Musk accused Indian authorities and Ambani of obstructing Starlink’s entry into the Indian telecommunications market, Reuters reports.
Jio Platforms, which controls India’s largest telecommunications network, is preparing an initial public offering targeting a valuation of approximately $106 billion.
The offering comes as Musk’s SpaceX seeks regulatory permission to launch Starlink satellite internet services across India, where affordable mobile data has helped bring hundreds of millions of people online.
India has some of the world’s lowest mobile internet prices, with data costing approximately eight cents per gigabyte.
Musk acknowledged that Starlink would need competitive pricing to attract customers accustomed to inexpensive internet service.
Writing on X, Musk said SpaceX would have to make its satellite internet affordable because Indian consumers would otherwise have little incentive to purchase it.
The billionaire also argued that competition would benefit Indian consumers by providing additional choices, even if it reduced the profits of existing telecommunications providers.
Musk has repeatedly criticized what he considers delays in India’s regulatory approval process, suggesting that the government has been protecting Ambani’s dominant market position.
In one particularly pointed message, he mockingly addressed Ambani as India’s prime minister, questioning whether the businessman would permit Starlink to compete.
The Indian government rejected allegations of favoritism, explaining that Starlink and other satellite internet companies, including a venture associated with Jio, are awaiting final security clearances before beginning commercial operations.
Reliance has not publicly responded to Musk’s latest accusations.
Starlink’s planned expansion into India forms part of SpaceX’s broader international telecommunications strategy, which increasingly includes direct competition with established mobile network operators.
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