Abstract:
On October 11, Reuters reported that Elon Musk said on Saturday that he would provide Starlink satellite Internet services at affordable prices in India to compete with Reliance Jio, the low-cost telecom service provider owned by Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani.
Musk and Ambani are at odds
Musk’s escalating attack on Ambani comes just days before Jio Platforms, the parent company of Reliance Jio, launches the largest IPO in India’s history, with the latter targeting a valuation of US$106 billion in the IPO. Like SpaceX's Starlink, Reliance Jio's own satellite business is also waiting for final safety clearance to launch.
Low-price data is the winning strategy for Reliance Jio's rise in India, and it is also the strategy Musk uses to stir up local telecom operators in markets such as Kenya. Now, SpaceX also plans to personally enter the mobile communication operator market, starting with the US market.
Musk did not disclose the specific pricing of Starlink in India. Mobile data tariffs in India are around 8 cents per gigabyte, making them among the lowest in the world.
Musk said on X on Saturday: "Obviously, if the price of Starlink in India is too high, no one will buy it, so SpaceX needs to set a price that consumers can afford."
"The reality is that competition will greatly benefit ordinary Indians because they will have more choices, and competition has always been like this. Ambani's profits will be reduced, but he will not go out of business because of this." Musk added.
Musk said Starlink is affordable in India
Musk’s latest remarks are his latest actions in recent consecutive posts on X accusing the Indian Modi government and Ambani. Musk accused the Modi government and Ambani of deliberately delaying Starlink's entry into the Indian market in order to favor market leader Jio. India is one of the largest internet markets in the world.
Later on Friday, Musk directly mocked Ambani, calling him "Prime Minister Ambani" and asking him if he would "consider allowing Starlink to compete."
The posts mark a clear shift in Musk's attitude. He has long maintained a good public relationship with Modi. The Indian government denies favoritism in the approval process and points out that three satellite internet companies that have applied to start operations, including Starlink and Jio, are currently waiting for final security approval.
Comments