Starlink declared on Friday that it is ready to roll out high-speed internet services in India, saying it has worked with Indian regulators, industry and operators for more than five years and built dedicated in-country infrastructure “all with the requisite government approvals”. The statement from Elon Musk’s satellite venture came in direct response to Reliance Industries, which earlier the same day said it welcomed competition in satellite communications — including from Starlink — but insisted every player must comply with Indian laws.
Tagging Reliance’s statement in a post on X, Starlink wrote: “We have worked closely with regulators, industry and operators in India for 5+ years, and built a network of dedicated systems, gateways, and other infrastructure all in-country to exclusively serve Indian traffic safely and securely – and all with the requisite government approvals.” It added that it stood ready to connect India with high-speed internet.
Friday’s exchange sharpens an increasingly public spat over India’s satellite communications market. Musk, the world’s richest man, has accused powerful business interests of blocking Starlink’s entry and alleged that some groups seek to preserve a “monopolistic chokehold” on Indian consumers. In posts on X, he sarcastically addressed Reliance chairman Mukesh Ambani as “Prime Minister Ambani”, questioning whether he wielded greater influence over India’s decisions than Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Ministry of Communications rejected the charges, describing suggestions that the regulatory framework was unfair or discriminatory as “baseless and misconceived”.
In its first direct response to Musk’s barbs, Reliance said it was placing “the facts on record”. “At Reliance, we have never feared competition. We see it as the truest test of who serves the customer best,” the company said, citing Jio’s rise from a newcomer with zero customers in 2016 to over 530 million subscribers today. “Every player, Jio included, must serve the people of India and abide by the laws and policies of the land,” it added, noting that Jio’s own satellite services also await clearances.
Government sources, speaking earlier this week, reiterated that companies must follow Indian law to do business in the country. Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has said Starlink, Reliance’s Jio Satcom and Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb have secured satcom licences, but spectrum will be assigned only once a revenue-based charging framework is finalised and security conditions are met, with regulators TRAI and the Department of Telecommunications close to a pricing decision. Securing a licence, officials stress, does not automatically permit commercial operations.
Bharti Airtel chairman Sunil Mittal has also entered the fray, saying at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum that his OneWeb venture is “significantly ahead in the queue”, having applied five years ago, with its ground network ready for three years and satellites hovering over India.
The row comes at a consequential time for Reliance, which is preparing the Jio Platforms IPO — priced at Rs 1,065 to 1,119 a share, with bidding from October 21 to 23 and listing expected on October 28. Reliance also plans a constellation of about 1,600 low-earth-orbit satellites to connect 600,000 villages. Ironically, Reliance and SpaceX signed an agreement last year to explore offering Starlink services through Jio’s retail network.
Original Source: https://assamtribune.com/business/starlink-says-india-infrastructure-is-ready-amid-satellite-internet-row-1620497
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Publish Date: 2026-10-17 12:37:00
