Elon Musk has intensified his public dispute with Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani over Starlink’s proposed entry into India. Musk accused Ambani’s online supporters of making contradictory arguments about Starlink’s ability to compete with Reliance Jio, calling their claims “absurd hypocrisy and hyperbole.”
Musk argued that Starlink’s entry would expand consumer choice, even if it reduced Reliance’s profits. He also said SpaceX would need to keep Starlink’s pricing affordable, as customers would not subscribe if the service were too expensive. However, he has not announced specific prices for India.
The dispute comes as Starlink continues to await the remaining approvals required to launch commercial satellite internet services in India. The government has rejected allegations of favouritism, stating that satellite internet providers must meet security and regulatory requirements before starting operations. Reliance had not publicly responded to Musk’s latest remarks at the time of the reports.
The debate highlights the potential impact of satellite broadband competition on India’s internet market, particularly for consumers in areas with limited connectivity.
