Elon Musk Claims Unnamed Oligarchs Are Blocking Starlink's Entry in India
· Technology · India Today, Hindustan Times, Bloomberg
Elon Musk alleged on X that unnamed Indian oligarchs are blocking Starlink's launch in India to protect their telecom monopolies, despite the company having built gateway sites and secured key licences. He made the remarks while responding to a post arguing that India needs Starlink to expand high-speed internet access in underserved areas. Musk stated, '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,' and called it 'a crime against the people of India!' Data cited in the post he responded to shows 11,256 villages lacked 4G coverage as of May 2026, with rural internet subscription density at 48.31 per 100 people compared to 126.80 in urban areas. India had 1.093 billion internet subscriptions in March 2026, but distribution remains uneven. Starlink awaits final approvals to begin commercial operations in one of the world's largest telecom markets.
Why it matters
The allegations highlight concerns about market competition and access to high-speed internet in rural India, where traditional infrastructure is limited. If substantiated, such claims could prompt regulatory scrutiny of barriers to foreign satellite broadband entrants.
Read the original report — India Today
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