‘Is Ambani the Real Boss of India?’: Elon Musk Questions Indian Government Over Starlink Licensing Row

‘Is Ambani the Real Boss of India?’: Elon Musk Questions Indian Government Over Starlink Licensing Row

VoM News Desk | October 08, 2026: Amid the ongoing controversy surrounding Starlink’s authorisation in India, billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has strongly criticised the Indian government over delays in granting approval for the satellite internet service.

Taking to the social media platform X, Musk claimed that Starlink, which is licensed in more than 165 countries, has spent five years complying with every law and regulatory requirement imposed by the Indian government.

“Starlink which is licensed in over 165 countries and has spent five years complying with every single law and requirement of the government of India. Even the compliance with each and every law, the government of India has not yet issued the license,” Musk stated.

However, the most striking part of his post came when he questioned the influence of billionaire industrialist Mukesh Ambani, asking, “Is Ambani the real boss of India?”

The remark has added a new dimension to the ongoing debate over regulatory approvals and competition in India’s satellite internet sector.

Musk’s comments followed the Indian government’s rejection of allegations that domestic business interests were obstructing Starlink’s entry into the Indian market.

The Ministry of Communications dismissed the allegations as baseless and misconceived, while defending India’s authorisation framework for telecommunications and internet services as fair and non-discriminatory.

Earlier, responding to an Indian X user who raised concerns about poor connectivity, Musk said Starlink could help bridge coverage gaps in areas of India where internet access and mobile signals remain unavailable.

Meanwhile, the telecom ministry stated that the government had already granted licences to three satellite communication operators: Musk’s Starlink, Reliance Jio’s satellite venture Jio Satcom, and Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb.

However, the ministry clarified that satellite internet services cannot begin commercial operations until the necessary security assessments and regulatory clearances are completed.

The controversy has renewed attention on India’s satellite communications sector, particularly the regulatory challenges facing international operators seeking to expand connectivity in underserved and remote regions.

Sources:

Starlink is licensed in over 165 countries and has spent five years complying with every single law and requirement of the government of India, so why still no license?

Is Ambani the real boss of India? https://t.co/KUSgfJRynZ

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 8, 2026

Starlink will be of great help to areas of India that have bad or no Internet and even no mobile coverage.

No country has perfect coverage, including America, but Starlink can fill in the coverage gaps for those who most need it. https://t.co/XLQaEhazIq

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 8, 2026