Elon Musk has escalated his public dispute with Mukesh Ambani over Starlink’s proposed entry into India, arguing that the billionaire’s supporters are making contradictory claims about the potential competition posed by the satellite internet service.

In a post on X on Sunday, the SpaceX chief challenged arguments that Starlink would struggle to match the low prices offered by Reliance Jio while simultaneously posing a serious threat to established telecom operators.

Musk described these claims as “absurd hypocrisy and hyperbole” and said Indian consumers would benefit from having more internet service options.

He argued that Starlink’s entry could reduce Reliance’s profits without threatening the company’s survival. Musk added that if consumers considered Starlink too expensive, they would simply avoid subscribing, forcing the company to reconsider its pricing.

According to Musk, competition would expand consumer choice and potentially improve connectivity for people who have limited access to reliable internet services.

Musk Targets Reliance Over Political Funding Reports

The latest remarks follow a series of posts in which Musk has criticised Ambani and raised questions about Reliance’s influence in India’s telecom and satellite communications markets.

On Saturday, Musk shared links to media reports concerning alleged links between Reliance-associated businesses and political activity.

One post featured an Al Jazeera report published in 2022 that examined claims that a Reliance-funded company helped promote BJP campaigns on Facebook. He also shared an archived Indian Express report from 2024 concerning electoral bond donations by Qwik Supply, a company linked to Reliance.

According to the report cited by Musk, Qwik Supply donated Rs 385 crore to the BJP and Rs 25 crore to the Shiv Sena through electoral bonds.

Musk’s posts come amid a dispute over the timeline for Starlink’s commercial launch in India. Reliance has not publicly responded to his latest allegations.

Earlier, Musk sarcastically referred to Ambani as “Prime Minister Ambani” and questioned whether Starlink would be allowed to compete freely in the Indian market. He accused Reliance of seeking to preserve its dominant position in the telecom sector.

Musk has also highlighted the potential benefits of satellite broadband for remote communities, arguing that improved connectivity could help students access educational resources and enable small businesses to reach customers worldwide.

He further said Starlink could provide vital communication services during natural disasters when conventional networks fail.

Government Says Satcom Market Is Open To Competition

The Centre has rejected suggestions that India’s licensing framework favours particular companies or restricts competition.

Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Friday that India does not permit monopolies in any sector and that telecom policy is intended to give consumers a choice of services and providers.

Speaking at the India Mobile Congress, Scindia said three companies had already received satellite communications licences: Elon Musk’s Starlink, Reliance Jio’s satellite venture and Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb.

He added that Amazon’s Project Kuiper had expressed interest in entering the market but would have to complete the prescribed authorisation process.

Scindia stressed that each licensed company must independently meet the applicable security conditions and regulatory requirements before commencing operations.

The minister also said the government’s approach was technology-neutral, with the objective of making services available to consumers and allowing them to decide which provider best met their needs.

Satcom Spectrum Pricing Decision Pending

The regulatory framework for satellite broadband pricing remains another important factor in the industry’s expansion.

Scindia said the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and the Department of Telecommunications were nearing a decision on the pricing framework for satellite communication spectrum.

The outcome could influence how satellite internet providers structure their services and compete with existing broadband and mobile operators.

With Starlink seeking to establish a presence in India, Musk’s criticism of Ambani has brought renewed attention to competition, spectrum policy and the role of private companies in expanding internet access.

The government has maintained that all providers must follow the same established framework, while Musk has argued that greater competition would ultimately benefit Indian consumers.