Reliance welcomes Starlink competition but says India’s rules apply to all

Reliance Industries said on October 16 that it welcomed Starlink’s entry into India’s satellite communications market, responding to Elon Musk’s criticism of the country’s approval process. The company said all operators, including its own Jio business, must follow Indian laws and policies. The dispute matters to companies seeking to launch satellite services in India while regulatory requirements remain outstanding.

Reliance’s response to Musk

The Indian Express described the statement as Reliance’s first official response to Musk’s allegation that ‘certain oligarchs’ were delaying Starlink’s launch in India. Musk also questioned whether Reliance chairman Mukesh Ambani was the ‘real boss of India,’ the paper reported. Those were Musk’s allegations; Reliance’s statement addressed competition and the rules for market entry.

Reliance pointed to Jio’s entry into India’s telecom market in 2016 as an example of its willingness to compete. It said Jio now has more than 530 million customers. That customer figure is Reliance’s own account, as reported by The Times of India. Reliance also said its satellite services were awaiting clearances.

What India’s satellite approvals mean for launch

Starlink, Jio Satellite Communications and Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb have received GMPCS licences and other statutory approvals needed for satellite communications services, according to The Indian Express. PTI reported that commercial service still depended on spectrum assignment and security requirements. The communications minister said the framework for spectrum charges had yet to be finalised, according to PTI.

The Communications Ministry rejected the allegation that India’s regulatory framework treated applicants unfairly or discriminated between them, calling it baseless and misconceived, PTI reported. Reliance said the government applies the same process to Indian and foreign applicants. Those positions address the criticism of the process; they do not announce a change to any operator’s approval status.