Musk Criticizes Indian Tycoon, Accuses of Monopoly Obstruction

Elon Musk, the founder of SpaceX, has publicly voiced frustration over the stalled rollout of his Starlink satellite internet service in India. Through a series of posts on X, formerly Twitter, Musk has pointed fingers at prominent Indian business figures, notably Mukesh Ambani and his conglomerate Reliance Industries, accusing them of hindering Starlink's operations.

Musk alleged that certain "oligarchs" are obstructing Starlink's progress to maintain their "monopolistic exploitation" of the Indian market. He questioned why Starlink, despite compliance with regulations in over 165 countries, has not yet secured a license in India after five years. In a pointed statement, Musk sarcastically referred to Ambani as "India's real prime minister," suggesting undue influence over the licensing process.

India's Department of Telecommunications has refuted these claims, stating that the regulatory framework is fair and non-discriminatory. The department clarified that multiple satellite communication operators are undergoing similar approval processes and that security assessments are ongoing, emphasizing that India does not permit monopolies in any sector.

While Reliance Industries and Mukesh Ambani have remained silent on Musk's accusations, his statements have triggered a strong backlash from Indian netizens. Many users on social media have defended India's sovereignty, questioned the affordability of Starlink for the general population, and criticized Musk's tone. The Indian telecom market is largely dominated by Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, which together hold a significant majority share in both mobile and broadband services.