Key Points
- Musk sarcastically addressed Mukesh Ambani as “Prime Minister Ambani”.
- He said satellite internet could connect underserved Indian communities.
- Starlink faces security and spectrum-related regulatory requirements.
ISLAMABAD: Elon Musk, the billionaire founder of SpaceX, has taken a fresh swipe at Indian business tycoon Mukesh Ambani, sarcastically addressing him as “Prime Minister Ambani” and accusing him of protecting monopolistic interests by keeping Starlink out of India’s internet market.
In a post on social media platform X, Musk questioned whether Ambani would allow his satellite internet service to compete in India, arguing that millions of people without reliable internet access could benefit from the technology.
“Dear Prime Minister Ambani,” Musk wrote, opening his post with an apparent jibe at the Reliance Industries chairman’s economic influence.
Dear Prime Minister Ambani,
Please accept my humble apologies for not realizing that you are the real boss of India.
Naturally, you would prefer to maintain your monopolistic exploitation of the great people of India, but would you nonetheless consider allowing Starlink to compete?
There are many areas of India, as there are in all countries, with no Internet access, which denies children the opportunity for education and for small businesses the opportunity to sell their goods to a global market. Starlink would change their lives for the better.
Thank you 🙏
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 9, 2026
“Please accept my humble apologies for not realizing that you are the real boss of India,” he added.
Musk went on to suggest that Ambani would prefer to preserve his existing market dominance but urged him to consider allowing Starlink to compete.
The post follows a public dispute over delays in granting Starlink final regulatory clearances to begin commercial operations in India, a market dominated by Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel.
Internet access argument
Musk defended Starlink’s proposed entry by highlighting the difficulties faced by communities without internet connectivity.
“There are many areas of India, as there are in all countries, with no Internet access, which denies children the opportunity for education and for small businesses the opportunity to sell their goods to a global market.” – Elon Musk
“There are many areas of India, as there are in all countries, with no Internet access, which denies children the opportunity for education and for small businesses the opportunity to sell their goods to a global market,” he wrote.
“Starlink would change their lives for the better,” Musk added, ending his message with a folded-hands emoji.
Starlink uses satellites in low Earth orbit to provide broadband connectivity, potentially reaching remote and geographically challenging locations where conventional fibre-optic networks and mobile infrastructure are difficult or expensive to deploy. The technology can support online education, digital commerce and access to public services, although affordability and the availability of compatible equipment remain important considerations.
Musk’s argument places digital inclusion at the centre of the dispute, presenting satellite connectivity as a way to expand internet access beyond the reach of conventional telecommunications infrastructure.
Fierce market competition
India represents a significant opportunity for satellite internet providers because of its enormous population and extensive rural and remote areas.
However, its telecommunications market is already dominated by major domestic operators, particularly Reliance Jio, controlled by Ambani, and Bharti Airtel, associated with billionaire Sunil Mittal.
The dispute over Starlink’s entry has, therefore, raised broader questions about competition between established telecommunications companies and international satellite internet providers.
According to Reuters, Starlink’s proposed entry has faced a prolonged approval process involving security requirements and spectrum access.
The potential commercial opportunity is substantial. Deloitte has forecast that India’s satellite broadband market could be worth $1.9 billion by 2030, according to Reuters. The market’s development will depend on regulatory decisions, investment, pricing and the ability of providers to attract customers.
