Elon Musk Accuses Indian Oligarchs of Blocking Starlink Internet Rollout
SpaceX founder Elon Musk accused Indian telecom oligarchs of blocking Starlink's market entry, calling it a crime against the people by preventing affordable internet access.
Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX, accused vested interests of blocking the rollout of the Starlink satellite internet service in India, aiming to protect their consumer monopoly, and labeled the move a "crime against the people of India" in a post on X.
"Some oligarchs are blocking us to maintain their monopolistic stranglehold on the Indian people," he wrote without naming competitors, adding, "You can guess who they are." The Indian telecom and internet market is dominated by Mukesh Ambani's Jio and Sunil Mittal's Airtel, which together hold over 80% market share.
In another post, Musk stated that Starlink's operation in India "will enable fast and affordable internet connectivity for those who cannot afford current prices." Currently, Jio, owned by Reliance Industries, is the country's largest mobile operator, credited with dramatically lowering mobile data prices since its launch a decade ago.
Last year, SpaceX announced agreements with Jio and Bharti Airtel to deploy Starlink services across the country. However, progress has been minimal, and Starlink has yet to launch its commercial services there.
Lauren Dreyer, SpaceX Vice President of Starlink Business Operations, stated Wednesday at the India Mobile Congress that there are currently 11,000 Starlink satellites in orbit, providing service to users in more than 170 countries.
