Reliance Industries has said it is ready to compete with any company, including Starlink, in satellite-based internet services. The company stated that the same rules apply to all Indian and foreign firms operating in the country. The statement comes in the wake of Elon Musk’s criticism of the regulatory hurdles facing Starlink’s entry into India.
Reliance said India offers an environment that welcomes investment and innovation, but maintained that every company must operate within the country’s laws and policies. It noted that, under the Indian government’s policy, the same process applies to domestic and foreign entities, and added that Jio’s satellite services are also yet to receive the necessary approvals.
The company said it has never feared competition, describing it as the right test of who provides better services to consumers. Reliance recalled that Jio had not a single customer when it entered the telecom sector in 2016, and said it has since earned the trust of over 53 crore users in ten years, while offering some of the most affordable data services in the world and improved digital infrastructure.
Starlink has obtained a licence to offer satellite communication services in India, but must secure security clearances and certain other approvals before commencing commercial operations. Last week, Musk targeted Reliance chairman Mukesh Ambani over Starlink’s entry, sarcastically addressing him as “Prime Minister Ambani” and alleging that he wanted to retain his monopoly in the Indian market, while asking whether Starlink would be allowed to compete.
Musk had also remarked on X that real power in India rested with Ambani, sarcastically apologising for failing to recognise his influence. Reliance clarified its stand in the wake of these remarks.