Reliance Welcomes Starlink Competition, Says Jio Satellite Services Await Clearances
Reliance Industries said on Friday that it welcomes Starlink competition in India's satellite communications market, arguing that the country's rules apply equally to domestic and foreign companies. The company also said its own Jio satellite services are still waiting for clearances. The remarks are a company statement, not a regulatory decision, and follow public criticism of India's approval process by Elon Musk.
What Reliance said on satellite competition
Reliance said its growth has been supported by a market that welcomes investment and innovation, provided businesses operate within the law. It said the government applies the same process to every applicant, Indian or foreign, and that Jio's satellite services await clearances like others.
The company said it has never feared competition and described it as the real test of which firm serves customers best. It said Jio entered India's crowded telecom market in 2016 with no customers and now has over 530 million. That figure is Reliance's own claim. Reliance added that every player in satellite communications, Jio included, must serve Indian users and follow the country's laws and policies.
How the Starlink row unfolded
| Reading | Detail | Signal |
|---|---|---|
| October 7 | Musk alleged on X that unnamed oligarchs were blocking Starlink in India | Allegation, not a finding |
| October 8 | Ministry of Communications called the discrimination claim baseless and the framework fair and non-discriminatory | Government rejection |
| October 8 | Musk named Mukesh Ambani, chairman of Reliance Industries, in a further post | Escalation |
| Friday | Reliance said rules apply equally and Jio's satellite services await clearances | Company response |
The ministry said Starlink and two other licensed satellite operators are at broadly the same regulatory stage. It said all three are undergoing security assessments that must be completed before they can seek spectrum, the radio frequencies satellites use. The ministry did not name Starlink or Musk in its statement.
Where approvals stand
Starlink has held a telecom licence and approval from India's space regulator, IN-SPACe. Reports say it still needs security clearance, spectrum and foreign direct investment approval, and it has not begun commercial services. The ministry has confirmed only the security assessments.
Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel have also received satellite licences and are awaiting spectrum assignment and final clearances. That is consistent with Reliance's statement that Jio's satellite services await clearances.
Background: the spectrum dispute
Starlink and Reliance Jio have disagreed in the past over how satellite spectrum should be assigned. Starlink argued for administrative assignment, while Jio argued for auctions, which could have made Starlink's entry more expensive. In 2025 both Jio and Airtel signed agreements to distribute Starlink devices in India, though relations have since been strained.
The statement does not change any approval timeline. Spectrum assignment and security clearance remain with the government.
