Elon Musk Doubles Down on Starlink Tirade as India Says Security Clearances Are Pending | News18

A CNN-News18 report on the dispute over SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet service in India. Elon Musk has renewed criticism of the delay in Starlink's commercial launch and publicly referred to Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani in a sarcastic way. Musk has previously accused unnamed "oligarchs" of blocking Starlink's entry, and he has not publicly substantiated his claim about Ambani. India's Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has said that Starlink and two other satellite operators have received licences but must still meet security requirements, which fall under the Ministry of Home Affairs, and complete spectrum-related steps. The government says the regulatory framework is fair and non-discriminatory.

• Musk renewed criticism of the delay in Starlink's commercial launch in India
• Musk made a sarcastic reference to Mukesh Ambani; he has not substantiated the allegation
• Indian government says Starlink and two other operators are licensed but still need security clearances and spectrum steps
• The government states the regulatory process is fair and non-discriminatory

ELON MUSK DOUBLES DOWN ON STARLINK ROW: The dispute over SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service in India has intensified after Elon Musk renewed his criticism of the delay in its commercial launch. Musk sarcastically addressed Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani as “Prime Minister Ambani”, escalating his earlier allegation that powerful business interests were obstructing Starlink to protect their dominance in India’s telecommunications market. Musk previously accused unnamed “oligarchs” of blocking Starlink’s entry. He argues that the satellite internet service could improve connectivity in remote areas, expand access to education and business opportunities, and provide communications support during natural disasters. However, he has not publicly substantiated his allegation that Ambani is responsible for the regulatory delay. India has rejected claims of discriminatory treatment. Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has said that Starlink and two other satellite communication operators have received licences but still need to fulfil applicable security requirements before commercial operations can begin. Security clearances fall under the Ministry of Home Affairs, while spectrum-related requirements must also be completed. The government maintains that the regulatory framework is fair and non-discriminatory, and that licensed operators are at a similar stage of the approval process. Starlink’s delayed launch therefore remains tied to unresolved regulatory and security requirements, even as the public dispute between Musk and India’s telecom sector intensifies. #ElonMusk #Starlink #StarlinkIndia #MukeshAmbani #JyotiradityaScindia #SpaceX #SatelliteInternet #IndiaSecurity #TelecomPolicy n18oc_breakingnews CNN-News18 is your trusted source for breaking news, updates, and in-depth analysis from around the world. CNN-News18 is dedicated to bringing you the latest news, trends, and insights, helping you stay informed and up-to-date. Subscribe Now and join our community of informed and engaged viewers.  Follow Every Breaking Story LIVE 🔴 Watch News18 LIVE 24x7: https://youtube.com/live/rfDx1HMvXbQ Follow us on Google: news18.co/cn18g Follow CNN News18 on X: https://x.com/CNNnews18 Follow CNN News18 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cnnnews18/ Follow CNN News18 on Facebook: facebook.com/cnnnews18 #GetCloserToTheNews with latest headlines on politics, sports and entertainment on news18.com News18 Mobile App - https://onelink.to/desc-youtube