The Reliance statement on Starlink, issued on Friday, marks the first time the conglomerate led by Mukesh Ambani has responded publicly to accusations that it is blocking the satellite service’s launch in India. Reliance said it welcomed competition from Starlink and that its own satellite services were also waiting for regulatory clearance.
What the Reliance Statement on Starlink Says
In the statement, Reliance said it had “never feared competition.” It described the document as an effort to “place the facts on record” in response to remarks about the company and the Indian market. The statement did not name Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, who has been the most prominent source of the criticism.
The central point was that Reliance is in the same position as its prospective rival. According to the company, its satellite operations are awaiting the same approvals as Starlink, a message intended to counter the suggestion that it has influenced the process in its own favour.
The Accusations From Elon Musk
Musk has repeatedly accused the Indian government and Ambani of stalling Starlink’s years-long attempt to launch in a market of more than a billion internet subscribers. His posts on the social media platform X have ranged from asking whether Ambani was the “real boss” of India to addressing him as “Prime Minister Ambani.”
India has denied any bias in its approval process. The government also rejected the monopoly claim made by Musk, according to earlier Reuters reporting.
The criticism marks a sharp turn for Musk, who has enjoyed a warm public rapport with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It also comes as New Delhi courts foreign investment and negotiates a trade deal with Washington.
Starlink Responds
Starlink replied on Friday, saying it had worked with Indian regulators and the industry for more than five years. The company said it had built dedicated systems, gateways and other infrastructure in the country with the required government approvals. It added on X that it is ready to connect India with high-speed internet. In a separate post responding to Reliance, Musk wrote “Much appreciated.”
Timing Ahead of the Jio Platforms IPO
The Reliance statement on Starlink arrived days before Jio Platforms, the digital unit of Reliance Industries, seeks a valuation of $108 billion in what would be India’s largest initial public offering to date. Jio houses the group’s telecom arm, which has more than 530 million customers and is a potential competitor to Starlink in the country’s internet market.
Musk has said he would price Starlink affordably in India in order to take on Jio’s low-cost plans. Cheap data is how Jio built its presence in India, and Musk has used a similar strategy in markets such as Kenya to disrupt local telecom operators. The prospect of that competition gives the dispute commercial weight beyond the public exchange of remarks.
India’s Long Wait for Satellite Internet
The debate is unfolding against the backdrop of a prolonged wait for satellite internet in India. The government has licensed three operators: Starlink, Jio’s satellite internet arm and Eutelsat OneWeb, which is backed by Bharti. None of them, however, has obtained the security clearance needed to begin commercial services.
The stakes extend well beyond the companies involved. Satellite broadband could help connect hundreds of millions of Indians who remain offline, most of them in rural and remote areas where terrestrial networks are difficult and costly to extend.
What Happens Next
The next developments will be decided largely by regulators. Until the security clearance is granted, none of the licensed operators can launch, and the question of who receives approval first will draw close scrutiny. Reliance’s statement is likely to ease some of the pressure on the company, but the Indian authorities have not given a timeline for decisions.
With the Jio Platforms offering approaching, the exchange between Ambani’s group and Musk is also likely to be watched by investors, who will weigh how a well-funded entrant could affect India’s largest telecom operator.
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This article is based on reporting by Reuters.
