Musk Accuses Indian 'Oligarchs' of Blocking Starlink Launch

Elon Musk accused unnamed "oligarchs" in India of working to keep his satellite internet service Starlink out of the country in order to protect their existing hold over consumers.

The SpaceX founder's comments point to friction between Starlink's ambitions to enter the Indian market and incumbent telecommunications players, which include major operators such as Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, though Musk did not name specific companies or individuals in the remarks.

Starlink has sought regulatory approval to operate in India for an extended period, and the service's launch in the country has faced repeated delays as it navigates the national regulatory and competitive landscape.

Musk's characterization of the obstacles as the work of "oligarchs" protecting their market position reflects the combative tone he has taken in the past when discussing regulatory or competitive hurdles facing his companies in other markets.

Neither the companies Musk may have been referring to nor Indian regulators were quoted directly responding to the claim in the available reporting. The dispute underscores the high stakes around satellite internet access in India, one of the world's largest and fastest-growing telecommunications markets.