Elon Musk vs Mukesh Ambani has erupted into one of the most public billionaire feuds of the year, as the SpaceX chief wages an escalating war of words over Starlink's stalled launch in India. Musk has mockingly dubbed Ambani the country's "prime minister," accused him of running a telecom monopoly, and even shared reports alleging links between Reliance and India's ruling party — while New Delhi insists the process is fair and non-discriminatory.
From "Oligarchs" to "Prime Minister Ambani": How the Feud Escalated
The clash began earlier this week when Musk claimed on X that Starlink was "being blocked by certain oligarchs" protecting their business interests — without naming anyone or providing evidence. He then asked pointedly: "Is Ambani the real boss of India?"
On Friday, Musk went further, sarcastically addressing the Reliance Industries chairman directly: "Naturally, you would prefer to maintain your monopolistic exploitation of the great people of India, but would you nonetheless consider allowing Starlink to compete?" He argued Starlink could bring internet access to unconnected areas, help children learn, and let small businesses reach customers worldwide.
On Saturday, Musk shared screenshots of media reports — including a 2022 Al Jazeera report headlined "How a Reliance-funded firm boosts BJP's campaigns on Facebook" and a 2024 Indian Express report on electoral-bond donations by a Reliance-linked firm — implying the conglomerate wields political influence. And on Sunday, he renewed the attack, accusing Ambani's supporters of "absurd hypocrisy and hyperbole" for arguing both that Starlink cannot compete on price and that it is a dangerous competitor.
India Pushes Back: "No Monopoly in Any Sector"
New Delhi has rejected the allegations at every turn. India's Ministry of Communications said its regulatory framework for satellite communications is "fair and non-discriminatory," calling suggestions of selective treatment "baseless and misconceived." The ministry noted that three licensed satellite operators — Starlink, Jio's satellite arm, and Eutelsat OneWeb (backed by Bharti Airtel) — are all at "broadly the same regulatory stage," awaiting security assessments and spectrum assignment.
Telecom minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Friday that India "does not allow a monopoly in any sector." Reliance Jio has not publicly responded to Musk's remarks.
What's Really at Stake: India's Satellite Internet Race
India, the world's most populous country with over a billion internet users, is a major prize. SpaceX has spent years trying to launch Starlink there and even struck distribution agreements with Ambani's Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel last year — yet still lacks the go-ahead for commercial operations despite securing key regulatory clearances.
The irony runs deep: Jio and Airtel, which together hold about 80% of India's telecom market, are building their own satellite internet services that would compete directly with Starlink.
Musk has also struggled elsewhere in India: Tesla launched in the country last year after years of anticipation but registered just 699 vehicles in its first 12 months of deliveries, with steep import duties pushing the Model Y's launch price to nearly twice its U.S. price.
The Takeaway
This is more than a billionaire spat — it is a proxy battle over who controls the future of internet access for a billion people. Musk frames it as a fight for competition and consumer choice; India frames it as a matter of fair, uniform regulation; Ambani's camp has stayed silent. With opposition politicians now joining the row, the feud shows no sign of cooling — and the real question remains when, or whether, Starlink will finally beam down over India.
Music in this post's reel: Kevin MacLeod - Hitman (incompetech.com), licensed under CC BY 3.0
Sources: TechCrunch, Reuters, The Hindu BusinessLine (PTI)