New Delhi | October 16, 2026
Reliance Industries has responded to Elon Musk’s criticism over Starlink’s delayed entry into India, saying it welcomes competition in satellite communications and expects all companies to follow the country’s laws and regulatory requirements.
In a statement issued on Friday, the company said the government applies the same approval process to domestic and international applicants. Reliance also clarified that Jio’s satellite internet services are awaiting the necessary government clearances.
Musk Questions Delay in Starlink’s India Launch
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has accused powerful business interests of obstructing Starlink’s entry into the Indian market. He has questioned why the satellite internet provider has not begun commercial operations despite spending years meeting regulatory requirements.
Musk has also argued that greater competition would give Indian consumers more choices and potentially improve access to satellite broadband services. His remarks have brought renewed attention to competition and regulatory approvals in India’s telecommunications sector.
Reliance Says It Has Never Feared Competition
Reliance said competition is an important test of a company’s ability to serve customers. It pointed to Jio’s entry into India’s telecommunications market in 2016, when the business had no existing customer base.
According to the company, Jio has since grown to more than 530 million customers by expanding digital infrastructure and offering affordable data services. Reliance maintained that both Indian and foreign companies should have opportunities to compete, provided they comply with applicable laws and policies.
Starlink, Jio and OneWeb Await Further Approvals
India has issued licences to Starlink, Jio’s satellite communications business and Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb. However, the companies still need to complete the relevant security and regulatory requirements before launching commercial services.
Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has said the government does not intend to allow a monopoly in satellite communications. The final process includes security clearances and decisions on the pricing framework for satellite services.
Satellite Internet Could Expand Connectivity
Satellite broadband could help connect people in remote and rural areas where conventional internet infrastructure is limited or expensive to deploy.
Starlink’s entry would introduce another competitor into India’s internet market, while Jio and OneWeb are also seeking to expand satellite connectivity. The impact on consumers will depend on pricing, coverage, service quality and the conditions under which each provider receives approval to operate.
The dispute highlights the challenge of balancing competition, national security requirements and the expansion of digital connectivity. Whether the competing providers can launch services will depend on completing India’s regulatory process.
