Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Oct 17: Elon Musk-led Starlink on Friday asserted that it was ready to provide high-speed internet services in India, saying it had worked with Indian regulators, industry stakeholders and operators for more than five years and built dedicated infrastructure in the country with the requisite government approvals.
In a post on X, Starlink said it had established dedicated systems, gateways and other infrastructure exclusively to serve Indian internet traffic securely. The company also tagged a statement by Reliance Industries, which welcomed competition in the satellite communications sector but emphasised that all companies must comply with Indian laws.
“We have worked closely with regulators, industry and operators in India for 5+ years, and built a network of dedicated systems, gateways, and other infrastructure all in-country to exclusively serve Indian traffic safely and securely — and all with the requisite government approvals,” Starlink said.
The company added that it was ready to connect India with high-speed internet services.
The exchange comes amid an intensifying public dispute over competition and regulatory approvals in India's satellite communications market, following Musk's allegations that powerful business interests were attempting to obstruct Starlink's entry into the country.
In its first direct response to Musk's recent remarks, Reliance Industries said it had never feared competition and believed a competitive market was the best way to determine which company served customers most effectively.
“At Reliance, we have never feared competition. We see it as the truest test of who serves the customer best,” the company said in a statement.
Reliance cited the growth of its telecom venture, Jio, which entered India's crowded telecommunications market in 2016 without a single customer and has since built a subscriber base of more than 530 million, offering affordable data services and digital infrastructure.
“We welcome competition in satellite communications, including Starlink. Every player, Jio included, must serve the people of India and abide by the laws and policies of the land,” the statement said.
The company also stressed that India's openness to domestic and international investment depended on adherence to the rule of law.
“Like every Indian enterprise, Reliance has grown in an India that welcomes investment and innovation, homegrown or international, that improve the lives of the people. That openness rests on the rule of law,” it added.
Reliance further pointed out that the government followed the same regulatory process for Indian and foreign applicants, noting that Jio's own satellite services were awaiting clearances.
Government sources have maintained that every company seeking to operate in India must comply with the country's laws and regulatory requirements. The Centre has rejected allegations that India's regulatory framework or its implementation was unfair or discriminatory, describing such claims as baseless and misconceived.
The government has also emphasised that satellite operators must meet the same requirements concerning security and spectrum allocation before launching commercial services.
Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has said that three ventures — Starlink, Reliance's Jio Satcom and Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb — have secured satellite communications licences. Amazon's Project Kuiper has also expressed interest in the Indian market but must follow the prescribed procedure.
Scindia has clarified that obtaining a licence does not automatically permit a company to commence commercial operations. Spectrum allocation and compliance with security requirements remain essential steps. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) have been working towards finalising the framework for spectrum pricing, including a revenue-based charging mechanism.
The controversy intensified after Bharti Airtel chairman Sunil Mittal said at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum 2026 that his satellite communications venture, Eutelsat OneWeb, was significantly ahead of Starlink in the queue for launching services in India.
“I think I am significantly ahead in the queue from him. I applied five years back,” Mittal said, adding that the company would welcome permission to begin operations.
Mittal said OneWeb's ground infrastructure had been ready for three years and its satellites had been operating over India for five years, but the company was still awaiting authorisation to commence commercial services.
His remarks followed Musk's criticism of India's satellite communications regulatory environment. In a series of posts on X, Musk targeted Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani, sarcastically referring to him as “Prime Minister Ambani” and questioning whether he wielded greater influence over government decisions than Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Musk has alleged that certain business groups are attempting to preserve a “monopolistic chokehold” on Indian consumers. The government, however, has rejected allegations of discriminatory treatment, maintaining that all satellite operators must fulfil the prescribed conditions.
The dispute comes at a significant time for Reliance as it prepares for the initial public offering of Jio Platforms, its digital services business.
According to the details provided, Jio Platforms has set a price band of Rs 1,065 to Rs 1,119 per share for an offer of up to 27 crore new shares, representing around three per cent of its existing capital. The proposed issue does not include an offer-for-sale component.
At the upper end of the price band, the issue would raise approximately Rs 30,213 crore, surpassing Hyundai Motor India's Rs 27,870-crore share sale in October 2024. The valuation implied by the price band stands at around Rs 10.3 lakh crore.
The bidding period is scheduled for October 21 to 23, with anchor investors bidding on October 19. The shares are expected to list on October 28.
Reliance is also pursuing its satellite communications ambitions, including a proposed constellation of approximately 1,600 low-Earth-orbit satellites intended to expand internet connectivity to around six lakh villages. The initiative would position Jio more directly against Starlink in a market where satellite broadband could help connect remote communities and areas with limited terrestrial network coverage.
Interestingly, Reliance and SpaceX signed an agreement last year to explore ways of making Starlink services available to Indian customers through Jio's retail network. Despite that earlier arrangement, the latest exchange highlights the growing competitive and regulatory tensions surrounding satellite internet services in India.