# Musk accuses Ambani of blocking Starlink in India

> SpaceX founder Elon Musk publicly attacks Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani, claiming he is preventing Starlink's launch in India after five years of regulatory compliance.
- Title: Musk accuses Ambani of blocking Starlink in India · CNBC
- Summary: SpaceX founder Elon Musk publicly attacks Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani, claiming he is preventing Starlink's launch in India after five years of…
- Keywords: elon musk, mukesh ambani, starlink, spacex, india, jio, satellite internet, rahul gandhi, gautam adani, business, finance, Musk
- Source: CNBC — https://cnbc.com/2026/10/09/musk-starlink-ambani-india-us.html
- Author: Priyanka Salve
- Published: 2026-10-09T04:02:13+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: elon musk, mukesh ambani, starlink, spacex, india, jio, satellite internet, rahul gandhi, gautam adani, business, finance
## Musk attacks Ambani over Starlink delay
SpaceX founder Elon Musk on Thursday accused Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani of blocking Starlink's launch in India. Musk said Starlink had spent five years complying with every single law and requirement of the government.

> Is Ambani the real boss of India?
## Ambani's Jio dominates Indian telecom
Ambani's Jio is the largest telecom and internet service operator in India. Along with Airtel, it controls about eighty percent of the market.
## Opposition leader backs Musk's complaint
Musk's attack prompted a response from Rahul Gandhi, India's opposition leader, who has consistently alleged the government is influenced by powerful businessmen. Gandhi made a veiled reference to Gautam Adani, India's wealthiest businessman.

> Wait till you meet the other one.
## Starlink licensed but frozen in India
In March last year, Starlink signed pacts with Jio Platforms and Airtel to explore cross-selling.In July last year, Starlink got a license to launch services in India.
## Jio plans competing satellite network
Akash Ambani, Mukesh's son and managing director of Jio Platforms, told shareholders in June that his company was planning low-orbit satellite communications.
## Jio argues for indigenous technology
Akash Ambani told Moneycontrol on Thursday that the company believes India needs its own indigenous stack of technologies.

> India needs its own indigenous stack of technologies.
## Key takeaway

Elon Musk accused Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani of blocking Starlink's launch in India, sparking political controversy over whether powerful businessmen control Indian policy.