Reliance Industries, controlled by billionaire Mukesh Ambani, said it welcomed competition from foreign satellite communications providers such as Elon Musk’s Starlink, while insisting that all operators must comply with India’s regulatory and security requirements.
The statement follows a public dispute in which Musk accused unnamed business interests of obstructing Starlink’s entry into India, describing the regulatory delays as a “crime against the people of India”.
Musk also questioned whether Ambani wielded undue influence over Indian policymaking, escalating tensions over access to one of the world’s largest telecommunications markets.
Reliance rejected suggestions that it was using its market position to block competitors, saying its own satellite communications venture, Jio Satellite Communications, was also awaiting regulatory approvals.
The company said it supported fair competition under the rule of law, arguing that the same regulatory requirements should apply to all operators seeking to provide satellite-based internet services in India.
The Indian government has defended its approval process, saying satellite operators, including Starlink, Jio and Eutelsat OneWeb, must undergo security assessments before receiving final spectrum allocations and other necessary clearances.
The reviews include requirements relating to local infrastructure, gateways and data security, according to the account provided by the government.
Starlink has been preparing to enter the Indian market, where satellite broadband could extend internet access to remote and underserved areas and provide an alternative to conventional fixed-line and mobile networks.
However, regulatory approvals remain a key hurdle for satellite operators seeking to launch commercial services in the country.
India’s satellite broadband market has attracted competing interests as companies seek to capitalise on demand for connectivity across a country of more than 1.4 billion people. The regulatory process also reflects government concerns over national security, data governance and control of telecommunications infrastructure.
Reliance’s Jio is a major player in India’s mobile and broadband markets, while Starlink is seeking to expand its global satellite internet business. Eutelsat OneWeb, backed in part by India’s Bharti Enterprises, is another contender for satellite connectivity services.
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