Reliance Industries posted a statement on X on Friday, saying that genuine competition helps establish which company provides the best service. The statement followed Musk’s allegations that Indian telecom operators were trying to block Starlink’s entry into the Indian market.
Musk has expressed frustration over the delay in Starlink’s India launch over the past few days. He has blamed Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani for the delay and has repeatedly targeted him in social media posts.
In a recent post, Musk mocked Ambani by referring to him as “Prime Minister Ambani” and describing him as the real boss of India.
Who Will Pay ₹2,200 a Month for Internet in India?
Following Musk’s posts, some users pointed out that India already has some of the world’s cheapest and fastest internet services. They argued that consumers can obtain 60GB of data for just ₹300–400 a month, with reliable connectivity even in remote villages.
This has raised questions about Starlink’s ability to attract Indian customers if its monthly subscription costs approximately ₹2,200, as it does in other countries.
Responding to the argument, Musk said critics were making contradictory claims. On one hand, they argued that Starlink could not compete with Jio’s affordable plans in India. On the other, they claimed that Starlink’s arrival would increase competition.
Musk argued that both positions could not be correct simultaneously.
The debate centres on whether greater competition would benefit consumers by encouraging companies to improve their services and pricing. Starlink’s entry could put some pressure on Ambani’s company and reduce its profit margins slightly, but that would not mean its business would shut down.
If Starlink’s services are too expensive for Indian consumers, the company may struggle to attract customers. SpaceX would therefore need to keep its prices affordable to establish a sustainable presence in the Indian market.
Government Confirms Licences for Three Satellite Internet Companies
At the India Mobile Congress 2026, Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia clarified the government’s position on satellite internet services. He said three satellite internet companies had received licences to operate in the country.
The companies are Reliance Jio Satcom, Eutelsat OneWeb, supported by Bharti Airtel, and Elon Musk’s Starlink.
However, the government also clarified that security clearances for all three licensed companies were still pending. The pricing framework for satellite spectrum was also being finalised.
The companies will be able to launch their services in India only after fulfilling all the necessary requirements.
Spectrum Allocation and Security Requirements
Satellite internet services require radio frequencies, known as spectrum, to operate. The government must determine how the spectrum will be allocated to companies and how much they will have to pay for it.
Reliance Jio had favoured spectrum auctions, while Bharti Airtel and OneWeb wanted the government to allocate spectrum directly. The government ultimately chose direct allocation under the Telecommunications Act, 2023.
Security and regulatory compliance are also central to the approval process. The government wants to ensure that Starlink complies with Indian laws and that agencies can monitor its network when required.
Authorities must also be able to intercept communications or data through lawful procedures and enforce security-related directives. Because satellite internet data can travel through a different route from that used by conventional mobile networks, ensuring compliance with these requirements remains important.
Starlink Equipment Recovered During Drug Smuggling Probe and Manipur Operation
In 2024, Indian agencies recovered Starlink equipment during an investigation into drug smuggling in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and during an Army operation in Manipur amid the violence in the state.
At the time, Musk said Starlink’s service had never been activated in India. He also maintained that the equipment recovered by the authorities could not have been used to access Starlink’s satellite network.
A Starlink kit includes a Starlink dish, a Wi-Fi router, power supply cables and a mounting tripod. The dish must be placed under an open sky to provide high-speed internet connectivity.
Starlink also offers an application for iOS and Android devices that supports the setup and monitoring of the service.
The company provides internet connectivity through satellites deployed in low Earth orbit. Its technology is designed to serve remote areas where mobile networks and broadband connections are unavailable.
Starlink has been attempting to launch its services in India since 2021, but regulatory approvals and outstanding requirements have delayed its entry into the market.
Kangana Ranaut Backs Kamal Haasan’s Remarks on India’s Policy Decisions
Amid the ongoing debate over Starlink’s delayed launch and licensing in India, actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut has weighed in by supporting comments made by actor and Rajya Sabha MP Kamal Haasan.
Ranaut praised Haasan’s remarks on social media platform X, in which he said that India was not anyone’s slave and that the country’s policies would be determined by its people, not by billionaires.
Reacting to Haasan’s statement, Ranaut took a swipe at Musk, writing, “Oh!! That must have stung. Very well said and explained.”
The exchange has added a political dimension to the debate surrounding Starlink’s entry into India, as the company awaits the completion of security clearances and the finalisation of the satellite spectrum pricing framework. The outcome of these regulatory processes will determine when Starlink, alongside Jio Satcom and OneWeb, can begin providing satellite internet services in the country.
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