Elon Musk has renewed his criticism of Mukesh Ambani amid the debate over Starlink’s proposed entry into India, accusing those defending the existing internet market of “absurd hypocrisy” and arguing that greater competition would benefit consumers.
In a fresh post on X on Sunday, October 11, the SpaceX chief described people defending the existing market as “Ambani’s army of Internet shills”. He questioned their argument that Starlink could not compete with the low prices offered by Reliance Jio while also suggesting that the satellite internet service could pose a serious threat to established operators.
Elon Musk maintained that competition would give Indian consumers more choices, even if it reduced the profits of existing players. He also acknowledged that Starlink would have to make its services affordable to attract customers in India.
The latest exchange comes amid continuing debate over the regulatory process, pricing and commercial launch of satellite-based internet services in the country.
Musk accuses critics of ‘absurd hypocrisy’
Musk’s latest remarks were in response to a post by Aaron Burnett, CEO of Mach33 Financial Group, who questioned the perception that internet services in India were already widely available and inexpensive.
Burnett argued that low-cost mobile internet should not be confused with widespread access to fixed broadband. He cited monthly mobile data consumption of around 30–40 GB in India, compared with home fibre consumption of nearly 300 GB, suggesting that an affordable alternative could help expand fixed broadband adoption.
Responding to the discussion, Musk challenged arguments that Starlink would struggle to compete with Reliance Jio’s pricing while simultaneously being portrayed as too powerful a competitor.
“The ridiculous arguments by Ambani’s army of Internet shills make no sense,” Musk wrote, describing the position as “absurd hypocrisy and hyperbole”.
He argued that competition would benefit consumers by expanding their options. According to Musk, existing companies might see lower profits but would not necessarily lose their businesses.
“The reality is that competition would greatly benefit the average citizen in India by giving them more choices, as it always does. Ambani’s profits will be lower, but he is not going out of business,” he said.
Musk also acknowledged the importance of pricing in determining whether the service could attract Indian customers.
“Obviously, if Starlink is too expensive in India, no one will buy it, so SpaceX will need to make pricing affordable,” he added.
‘Prime Minister Ambani’ jibe intensifies dispute
Sunday’s post followed a series of comments by Musk criticising the delays surrounding Starlink’s proposed commercial launch in India.
On Friday, October 9, Musk sarcastically addressed Ambani as “Prime Minister Ambani” while accusing him of seeking to protect an existing monopoly.
“Dear Prime Minister Ambani, Please accept my humble apologies for not realizing that you are the real boss of India,” Musk wrote in the earlier post, questioning whether the Reliance chairman would allow Starlink to compete in the Indian market.
Musk also argued that satellite internet could help connect people living in areas where conventional internet infrastructure remains limited.
He said improved connectivity could expand children’s access to education and help small businesses reach markets beyond their immediate locations.
In another post, Musk highlighted Starlink’s role in providing communications during natural disasters worldwide, when conventional communication systems may fail. He argued that the service could also help save lives in India during emergencies.
On Saturday, October 10, Musk shared reports concerning alleged links between Reliance-funded entities and political campaigning and donations. The reports included an Al Jazeera article from 2022 concerning a Reliance-funded firm’s role in boosting BJP campaigns on Facebook and an archived Indian Express report from 2024 concerning electoral bond donations reported from Qwik Supply.
The cited report stated that Qwik Supply had made donations of Rs 385 crore to the BJP and Rs 25 crore to the Shiv Sena through electoral bonds. These reports were shared by Musk amid the ongoing dispute over Starlink’s entry into India.
Reliance had not publicly responded to Musk’s allegations in the account provided.
Government says satellite internet licences granted to three players
The dispute has unfolded alongside government statements on the regulatory position of satellite communications services in India.
Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Friday that India did not permit monopolies in any sector and that three companies had secured licences to provide satellite communication services.
The licensed operators include Musk’s Starlink, Reliance Jio’s Jio Satcom and Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb.
Scindia said the government’s approach was technology-neutral and that consumers would ultimately choose the service and provider that best suited their needs.
“Let me set the record straight. For us, the Department of Telecommunications, we are technology agnostic,” he said at a briefing during the India Mobile Congress in Delhi.
He added that the Department of Telecommunications aimed to make a range of services available to consumers, leaving them free to choose between providers.
Scindia also said Amazon’s Project Kuiper had expressed interest in entering the satellite communications market but would have to follow the established licensing procedure.
The government’s position contrasts with Musk’s suggestion that business interests were obstructing Starlink’s entry. The Ministry of Communications had rejected that allegation, describing it as baseless and misconceived and stating that the three licensed operators were at a similar stage of the regulatory process.
Starlink awaits regulatory clearances and pricing decisions
Although Starlink has secured a satellite communications licence, a commercial launch requires the company to fulfil additional regulatory requirements.
According to Scindia, security assessments and other prescribed milestones must be completed before licensed operators can begin commercial services.
The Department of Telecommunications and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India are also nearing a final decision on satellite service pricing, he said.
Pricing is expected to be an important factor in determining the market for satellite internet services. Unlike conventional mobile and fibre broadband, satellite connectivity can serve remote and difficult-to-reach locations where terrestrial infrastructure may be limited. However, the cost of the service and the equipment required could influence its appeal to Indian consumers.
Musk’s latest remarks acknowledge this challenge, with the SpaceX chief stating that Starlink would need affordable pricing to attract customers.
The entry of multiple licensed operators could eventually give consumers more options, although the scale of competition will depend on the services offered, their prices, coverage and the completion of regulatory requirements.
Competition and affordability remain central issues
The exchange between Musk and Ambani has brought renewed attention to the future of satellite internet in India, particularly the balance between expanding connectivity and ensuring that services remain affordable.
Musk argues that Starlink could provide an alternative for people and businesses with limited access to reliable internet. His critics have questioned whether the service could compete with India’s established providers on price, while the government maintains that all licensed operators must meet the same applicable regulatory requirements.
With commercial launch clearances and pricing decisions still pending, the extent to which Starlink will compete with existing internet providers remains uncertain.
For Indian consumers, the key questions will be whether satellite services can offer practical coverage in underserved areas, how much they will cost and how they compare with existing mobile and fixed broadband options.