Did Starlink Back Down After Reliance’s Statement?

The dispute between Elon Musk and Reliance Industries over satellite internet services in India appears to have eased, at least temporarily. Responding to allegations that influential business groups were obstructing Starlink’s entry into India, Reliance stated that it welcomes competition from both domestic and foreign companies, provided they comply with Indian laws and regulations.

Reliance clarified that its growth has been driven by investments made within India’s legal framework. It also pointed out that Jio’s satellite communication services are awaiting regulatory approvals, just like Starlink and OneWeb. The company highlighted Jio’s growth since entering the telecom sector in 2016 and rejected allegations that it was trying to block Starlink’s licence.

Following Reliance’s statement, Starlink said on X that it had been working with Indian regulators and telecom operators for the past five years and had established the necessary infrastructure. It expressed readiness to connect India with high-speed internet. Musk responded with “Much appreciated.” Meanwhile, Bharti Airtel chairman Sunil Mittal said Airtel was five years ahead of Musk in the approval process. The government has maintained that the companies are at comparable stages of regulatory review, with final clearances still pending.