Technology
Musk Blames ‘Oligarchs’ for Delaying Starlink Launch in India
Elon Musk criticized unnamed “oligarchs” for delaying Starlink’s launch in India, saying the service is being blocked to preserve a monopolistic hold on the Indian population. In a post on X on October 7, 2026, Musk added, “You can guess who they are,” without naming anyone. Starlink holds a licence to provide satellite internet in India but is still awaiting security clearances and spectrum allocation before it can begin commercial operations, Bloomberg reported. The company has built 20 gateway sites, installed hundreds of antennas, and implemented India‑specific security controls, and says it is ready to start once India approves. Musk’s remarks followed a comment that India needed Starlink to bring faster internet to areas where phone towers and fibre are difficult to build. He also noted that Starlink would offer fast, affordable internet to those who cannot pay current prices or lack connectivity. Bloomberg said Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel did not respond to requests for comment. India has issued satellite communication licences to Starlink, Jio, and OneWeb, but none have launched full commercial services. Security concerns, reportedly held by agencies under the home ministry, have stalled final approval for Starlink. Starlink’s vice president of business operations, Lauren Dreyer, told an industry event in New Delhi that the company has spent five years working with Indian regulators, built its network around India’s security rules, and will keep user data in the country. Musk’s post appears to target billionaires Mukesh Ambani and Sunil Bharti Mittal, whose companies Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel together hold about 910 million broadband subscribers, more than 80 percent of the market. Airtel has partnered with SpaceX to offer Starlink to its customers, while Reliance has its own satellite plans through Jio Satellite Communications and a joint venture with SES. Bloomberg noted that Jio Platforms is preparing for a potentially large initial public offering later this month.