Elon Musk accuses unnamed oligarchs of stalling Starlink entry in India

SpaceX founder Elon Musk on Wednesday accused unnamed business figures of intentionally obstructing Starlink from launching satellite broadband services in India, alleging that the delay is designed to protect a monopolistic grip on consumers.

Musk made the remarks on social media while responding to data highlighting connectivity deficits across thousands of rural settlements. He stated that the venture is facing opposition from certain entities attempting to preserve a market chokehold, describing the situation as harmful to the public.

The sharp remarks coincided with the ongoing India Mobile Congress in New Delhi, where SpaceX vice-president of Starlink business operations, Lauren Dreyer, outlined the company's preparations. She told attendees that the enterprise has spent five years engaging with domestic regulators, operators, and industry stakeholders to align with local mandates.

Dreyer confirmed that physical preparations are complete, noting that the firm has constructed 20 gateway sites equipped with hundreds of antennas across the country. She emphasized that operational parameters have been configured to store Indian user data domestically and comply with national security guidelines.

While Starlink holds a valid licence for satellite communication services, commercial operations remain on hold pending final government approvals and spectrum allocation. Similar administrative processes apply to other competitors in the emerging sector, including Eutelsat OneWeb, backed by the Bharti Group, and Reliance Jio Space Technology.

Industry observers note that while hardware infrastructure and regulatory frameworks are largely established, the final security clearances and spectrum assignment will dictate when commercial broadband services can officially commence operations for consumers across the country.