Billionaire Elon Musk has intensified his criticism of Mukesh Ambani, accusing him of obstructing Starlink's entry into India. Musk sarcastically referred to Ambani as 'Prime Minister Ambani' and apologized for not recognizing him as 'the real boss of India,' highlighting alleged business interests behind the delay. This came after Musk shared screenshots of past reports linking Ambani to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), continuing his public dispute on social media, according to livemint.com.
Musk's posts included screenshots from Al Jazeera and Indian Express that allege connections between Ambani and the BJP, suggesting these ties influence regulatory hurdles faced by Starlink. Musk questioned whether Ambani aimed to protect a monopoly by preventing Starlink from competing in India’s satellite internet market. The Indian government stated that Starlink must fulfill security conditions and regulatory steps for spectrum assignment, with security assessments ongoing for all licensed satellite operators, per livemint.com.
The dispute underscores broader concerns about market competition and regulatory transparency in India’s satellite internet sector. The government maintains that its framework is fair and non-discriminatory, allowing licensed operators to proceed once they meet prescribed conditions. Musk’s allegations highlight tensions between new technology entrants and established business interests, reflecting challenges in India's evolving telecom landscape, as reported by livemint.com.
The government confirmed that security assessments for all three licensed satellite operators, including Starlink, are underway. Approval depends on meeting these security and regulatory requirements, with no monopolies allowed under the current framework, according to official statements cited by livemint.com.