Elon Musk publicly accused Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani of exerting undue influence over the Indian market, claiming that Starlink has been stalled despite complying with all regulatory requirements for five years.
Musk's comments come after he labeled certain 'oligarchs' as responsible for maintaining a monopolistic grip on the Indian internet market, where Ambani's Jio and Airtel dominate with an 80% market share. This situation has drawn political attention, with opposition leader Rahul Gandhi suggesting that powerful businessmen are influencing government decisions.
Starlink had previously signed agreements with Jio and Airtel to explore collaboration but has faced regulatory setbacks, including frozen approvals for its service launch due to concerns over unlicensed terminal usage. Meanwhile, Jio is advancing its own satellite communications plans, which could further complicate Starlink's entry into the Indian market.
Musk's ventures in India, including Tesla, have also struggled to gain traction, indicating potential challenges for foreign companies in navigating the local business landscape