# Musk accuses India's Ambani of blocking Starlink

> Elon Musk questions billionaire Mukesh Ambani's influence after India rejects claims that powerful interests are blocking Starlink's satellite internet launch.
- Title: Musk accuses India's Ambani of blocking Starlink · TechCrunch
- Summary: Elon Musk questions billionaire Mukesh Ambani's influence after India rejects claims that powerful interests are blocking Starlink's satellite internet…
- Keywords: elon musk, starlink, spacex, mukesh ambani, reliance industries, india, satellite internet, regulatory delay, technology, startups, Musk, accuses
- Source: TechCrunch — https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/08/india-rejects-elon-musks-claim-of-discrimination-over-starlink-launch
- Author: Jagmeet Singh
- Published: 2026-10-08T15:12:59+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: elon musk, starlink, spacex, mukesh ambani, reliance industries, india, satellite internet, regulatory delay, technology, startups
## Musk accuses oligarchs of blocking Starlink
Elon Musk posted on X that unnamed oligarchs are blocking Starlink's launch in India to maintain their monopolistic chokehold, calling it a crime against the people of India.

> crime against the people of India
## India rejects discrimination claims
India's Ministry of Communications said its regulatory framework for satellite communications is fair and non-discriminatory, with Starlink and two other licensed operators at broadly the same regulatory stage.

> fair and non-discriminatory
## Musk questions Ambani's influence
On Thursday, Musk questioned the influence of Reliance Industries chairperson Mukesh Ambani, asking on X whether Ambani is the real boss of India after claiming Starlink had spent years complying with regulations.

> Is Ambani the real boss of India?
## Starlink's five-year struggle in India
Starlink has spent more than five years trying to enter India, a market with more than a billion internet subscribers, but has yet to begin commercial services despite securing key regulatory approvals.
## Starlink partners with Indian telecom giants
Starlink partnered with telecom giants Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel last year and appointed former Payoneer executive Prabhakar Jayakumar to lead its India operations in December.
## Starlink's infrastructure already in place
Starlink said it has more than twenty gateway sites and hundreds of antennas on the ground in India, adapted to meet the country's regulatory, security and data-sovereignty requirements.
## Previous clash over spectrum allocation
Starlink previously clashed with India's largest telecom operators over spectrum allocation. Starlink pushed for administrative assignment while Reliance Jio argued for auction. India sided with Starlink's preferred approach.
## Competitors pursue their own satellite services
Jio is working with satellite operator SES on satellite broadband, while Airtel is a major backer of Eutelsat OneWeb, even as both have agreed to distribute Starlink in India.
## Starlink launches in Bangladesh instead
While the timing of Starlink's India launch remains unclear, the company this week launched Starlink Mobile, which connects ordinary phones to satellites, in neighbouring Bangladesh.
## Key takeaway

Elon Musk accused unnamed oligarchs of blocking Starlink in India, then questioned Mukesh Ambani's influence, but India's government said its regulatory process is fair and all satellite operators are at the same stage.