Elon Musk Criticizes Indian Billionaire Amid Starlink Launch Delays

SpaceX founder Elon Musk on Thursday took aim at Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani, questioning if Ambani is "the real boss of India" and accusing unnamed "oligarchs" of maintaining a "monopolistic chokehold" that is stalling Starlink's launch. Musk stated that despite five years of complying with every law and requirement, Starlink has not been allowed to launch in the country.

Musk's comments drew a political response from Rahul Gandhi, India's leader of the opposition. Gandhi, who has frequently accused the government of favoring select businessmen, responded cryptically to Musk, implying the existence of other influential figures. Musk acknowledged Gandhi's remark, stating "This is indeed troubling."

Starlink received a license to operate in India in July 2025, but has yet to launch commercially. Reports from earlier this year indicated that New Delhi had frozen approvals for Starlink due to security concerns regarding its terminals, particularly as the service had not yet been officially licensed for operation.

Meanwhile, Reliance Industries, Ambani's flagship company, is reportedly planning its own satellite network. Akash Ambani, managing director of Jio Platforms, announced plans for a network of approximately 1,600 low-earth orbit satellites and 23 ground stations. This move by Jio, a dominant player in India's telecom market alongside Airtel, could intensify competition for satellite-based internet services in the region.