India rejects Elon Musk's claim that oligarchs are blocking Starlink satellite internet approval

On October 8, 2026, India's telecommunications ministry rejected Elon Musk's claim that unnamed oligarchs were blocking Starlink's launch, calling the accusation baseless. The ministry stated that three satellite internet providers, including Starlink, were at the same regulatory stage and undergoing security assessments. Musk had earlier accused certain billionaires of maintaining a monopolistic hold on India's telecom market. The dispute adds tension to ongoing India-US trade talks, as Starlink has waited four years for approval. India's telecom market is dominated by Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, which together control over 80% of broadband subscribers.