Elon Musk Accuses Oligarchs of Blocking Starlink’s India Launch to Preserve Market Monopoly

SpaceX Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk has alleged that Starlink’s satellite internet launch in India is being blocked by domestic oligarchs seeking to preserve a monopolistic hold over consumers. Characterizing the opposition as a crime against the Indian populace, Musk’s remarks follow SpaceX’s renewed regulatory application for its Gen 2 satellite constellation featuring direct-to-device capabilities. The statement underscores intensifying rivalry between global satellite providers and established domestic telecommunications operators.

RMN News Business Desk
New Delhi | October 8, 2026

SpaceX Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk publicly alleged that the entry of Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet division, into the Indian market is being intentionally delayed by domestic business interests seeking to protect market dominance.

In a statement published on the social media platform X, Musk claimed that Starlink is facing active resistance from unnamed figures in the domestic industry.

“Unfortunately, we are being blocked by certain oligarchs in order to maintain their monopolistic chokehold on the Indian people. You can guess who they are …,” Musk stated, adding that the situation constitutes “a crime against the people of India!”

Renewed Push for Satellite Network Approval

Musk’s accusations come following Starlink’s resubmission of its authorization request to the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe). The updated filing seeks approval for Starlink’s Gen 2 satellite constellation, operating in low Earth orbit at altitudes ranging between 340 kilometers and 615 kilometers.

Unfortunately, we are being blocked by certain oligarchs in order to maintain their monopolistic chokehold on the Indian people. You can guess who they are …

This is a crime against the people of India!

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 7, 2026

The Gen 2 constellation incorporates advanced direct-to-device (D2D) connectivity, a technology designed to connect satellite signals directly to standard mobile handsets without intermediate ground infrastructure.

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Starlink is a satellite internet service that brings fast internet to far-away places.

Key Facts:

• Who runs Starlink: SpaceX operates the service.
• What Starlink does: It gives you fast internet with very little delay, also called latency.
• Who Starlink is for: It is built for people living in rural or hard-to-reach areas.

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Regulators at IN-SPACe previously declined Starlink’s initial submission for a proposed 30,000-satellite constellation due to non-conformity regarding specific functional features and frequency bands. IN-SPACe subsequently granted approval for Starlink’s Gen 1 deployment, comprising 4,408 satellites, in July 2025.

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SpaceX’s long-term global plan encompasses approximately 42,000 satellites for its Gen 2 network, with the current Indian filing covering roughly 30,000 satellites.

Regulatory Landscape and Industry Competition

Commercial satellite communication services operated by non-geostationary satellite operators have not yet officially launched in India, as government departments evaluate required security clearances and spectrum distribution guidelines.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has submitted recommendations regarding pricing structures for satellite spectrum allocation, though final executive policy decisions remain pending. Trai is also examining regulatory rules for D2D services, which have drawn scrutiny from traditional telecom providers who argue that satellite D2D operations should abide by equivalent regulatory and financial obligations as terrestrial networks.

Starlink is positioning itself to enter a highly competitive satellite communications landscape in India. Competitors planning or developing low Earth orbit networks include Reliance Jio, Amazon Leo, and Eutelsat OneWeb.

To prepare for domestic operations, Starlink has already constructed 20 ground gateway sites across India and committed to storing all local user data strictly within national borders.