Musk Accuses 2 Indian Telecom Giants of Blocking Starlink Launch as 80% Market Stays Concentrated
Updated
Updated · CNBC · Oct 8
Musk Accuses 2 Indian Telecom Giants of Blocking Starlink Launch as 80% Market Stays Concentrated
3 articles · Updated · CNBC · Oct 8
Summary
Elon Musk said Starlink is being blocked in India by unnamed “oligarchs,” calling the delay “a crime against the people of India” and arguing the service would bring cheaper high-speed internet.
More than 80% of India’s telecom market is controlled by Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, the two companies Musk appeared to target without naming them directly.
The holdup persists despite SpaceX announcing deals with Jio and Airtel last year to distribute Starlink, with no commercial launch yet visible in India.
Starlink says its 11,000 satellites already serve users in over 170 countries, while executives told India Mobile Congress it has worked for years to help connect remote areas in India.
Regulatory friction also clouds the rollout: Bloomberg reported in June that New Delhi froze approvals over security concerns that unlicensed terminals could still be used.