Musk vows ‘affordable’ Starlink in India as he escalates feud with Ambani | Business and Economy News
Musk Promises Affordable Starlink Pricing in India Amid Jio’s IPO Launch
Published on October 11, 2026
Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk announced plans to offer competitive pricing for his Starlink satellite internet service in India, amid ongoing competition with Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Jio. His comments come just days before Jio’s parent company is set to launch India’s largest-ever initial public offering (IPO), targeting a valuation of $106 billion.
Like SpaceX’s Starlink, Jio’s own satellite venture is also awaiting final security clearance to begin operations. The affordability of mobile data has been a defining strategy for Jio, which has revolutionized the telecommunications market in India. Musk has employed similar tactics in other regions, including Kenya, where he disrupted existing telecom providers.
While Musk did not disclose specific pricing for Starlink in India, it is important to note that mobile data in the country costs approximately 7.74 rupees ($0.08) per gigabyte, one of the lowest rates globally. In a post on his social media platform X, Musk emphasized the need for competitive pricing, stating, “Obviously, if Starlink is too expensive in India, no one will buy it, so SpaceX will need to make pricing affordable.”
He added, “The reality is that competition would greatly benefit the average citizen in India by giving them more choices, as it always does. Ambani’s profits will be lower, but he is not going out of business.”
Musk’s statements have sparked a new phase of criticism directed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government and Ambani, suggesting they have conspired to delay Starlink’s entry into a major market to protect Jio’s interests. This marks a noticeable shift for Musk, who has previously maintained a positive relationship with Modi.
The Indian government has refuted accusations of favoritism, asserting that all three satellite ventures, including Starlink and Jio, are awaiting the same regulatory approvals.
On Friday, Musk directly challenged Ambani, referring to him as “Prime Minister Ambani” and inquiring whether he would “consider allowing Starlink to compete.” Reliance Jio has yet to respond to Musk’s comments.
