Elon Musk has pledged to make Starlink’s satellite internet service affordable in India, setting the stage for competition with Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Jio. His comments come days before Jio Platforms prepares for a major initial public offering (IPO).

Jio Platforms, the parent company of Reliance’s telecommunications business, is targeting a valuation of $106 billion in the planned offering. Meanwhile, Starlink and Jio’s satellite internet venture are both awaiting final security clearance to begin operations in India.

Affordable data helped Jio expand rapidly across the Indian market. Musk has also used competitive pricing in other markets, including Kenya, to challenge established telecommunications providers.

SpaceX, which owns Starlink, is also planning to enter the mobile carrier market, beginning in the United States.

Musk Says Starlink Must Offer Competitive Prices

Musk did not disclose specific prices for Starlink in India. Mobile data in the country costs around 8 cents per gigabyte, making it among the cheapest globally.

In a post on his social media platform X on Saturday, Musk said Starlink would need affordable pricing to attract Indian customers.

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“Obviously, if Starlink is too expensive in India, no one will buy it, so SpaceX will need to make pricing affordable,” he said.

Musk also argued that greater competition would benefit Indian consumers by expanding their choices.

“The reality is that competition would greatly benefit the average citizen in India by giving them more choices, as it always does. Ambani’s profits will be lower, but he is not going out of business,” Musk added.

Musk Questions India’s Starlink Approval Process

Musk’s comments follow a series of posts in which he accused Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government and Ambani of delaying Starlink’s market entry to benefit Reliance Jio.

The remarks mark a shift in Musk’s public exchanges with Modi, with whom he has previously maintained a cordial public relationship.

India’s government has denied favouring any company in the approval process. Officials have noted that Starlink and Jio’s satellite venture are among the operators awaiting final security clearance.

Late Friday, Musk directly addressed Ambani in another post on X. He referred to the Indian billionaire as “Prime Minister Ambani” and asked whether he would “consider allowing Starlink to compete”.

Reliance has not responded to requests for comment on Musk’s remarks.

Starlink’s entry into India could introduce another option for internet users, particularly in areas where conventional broadband infrastructure remains limited. However, its pricing, regulatory approval and commercial launch timeline remain key factors in determining its position in the market.