SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has accused unnamed “oligarchs” of blocking Starlink’s entry into India, and alleged that they want to maintain a “monopolistic chokehold” over Indian consumers.
Musk made the comments on October 7, 2026, in a post on X after another user asked for Starlink to be launched in India to connect underserved places to internet services. Starlink has been preparing its satellite internet service in India but has yet to get some regulatory approval.
What did Elon Musk say?
In response to the post, Musk said Starlink was blocked by “some oligarchs” to maintain what he called a “monopolistic chokehold on the Indian people.”
He did not identify the individuals or companies involved. Musk also called the alleged situation a “crime against the people of India.”
The comment came amid ongoing discussions about Starlink’s future status in India regarding when it will be able to officially launch commercial operations.
Why is Starlink’s India launch delayed?
Starlink has already secured important regulatory approvals for operating satellite communication services in India. Still, it will need more clearances before it can commercialize its service.
There are still outstanding issues of security clearances and other regulatory approvals, and the government has also been working on the spectrum allocation for satellite communication services.
Therefore, it would be inaccurate to say that Starlink has been completely denied permission to enter India.
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
Starlink Says It Is Ready.
Musk’s comments came on the same day that Lauren Dreyer, SpaceX Vice-President for Starlink Business Operations, spoke at the India Mobile Congress in New Delhi.
Dreyer said Starlink had built its operations around Indian security needs and was ready to begin serving the country once the necessary government approvals were completed.
She said the company had already established 20 gateway sites with hundreds of antennas and had invested in infrastructure for its Indian operations.
Competition in India’s Satellite Internet Market
Starlink is entering a market where major Indian telecom players are also developing satellite connectivity businesses.
Jio Satellite Communications and Eutelsat OneWeb, backed by major Indian telecom interests, are also attempting to provide satellite broadband services. Amazon’s satellite internet business is another possible competitor in the Indian market.
Musk’s reference to a “monopolistic chokehold” has therefore stimulated speculation about the competitive environment. But he didn’t identify the purported “oligarchs,” so it is not clear who he is talking about.
