Musk Promises Affordable Starlink Pricing to Challenge Jio in India

Elon Musk has pledged to make Starlink satellite internet affordable in India as his dispute with billionaire Mukesh Ambani intensifies over competition in the country's telecommunications market. In posts on X on Saturday, Musk argued that greater competition would expand consumer choice, while his remarks came days before Jio Platforms targets a $106 billion valuation in its planned initial public offering.

Jio Platforms, the parent company of Reliance Jio's telecommunications business, is preparing for the offering, described by Al Jazeera as India's largest-ever IPO. Both SpaceX-owned Starlink and Jio's satellite internet venture are awaiting final security clearance before launching their respective services.

Musk did not disclose specific Starlink prices for India. According to Al Jazeera, mobile data in the country costs approximately 7.74 rupees, or $0.08, per gigabyte, making it one of the cheapest markets worldwide.

In a post on X, Musk acknowledged that pricing would determine whether Starlink could attract Indian customers.

"Obviously, if Starlink is too expensive in India, no one will buy it, so SpaceX will need to make pricing affordable," said Musk, the company's founder and chief executive.

Musk's comments reflect a competitive approach that has also shaped his company's expansion efforts in other markets. Al Jazeera reported that he has used low pricing in Kenya to challenge established telecommunications operators, while SpaceX is also planning to enter the mobile carrier market in the United States.

Musk argued that allowing Starlink to compete with Jio would benefit Indian consumers, while acknowledging the potential financial impact on Ambani's business.

"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.

The pricing pledge forms part of a broader public dispute in which Musk has accused India's government and Ambani of delaying Starlink's entry to protect Jio's position in the market. His latest remarks represent a shift from his previously warm public relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

On Friday, Musk directly addressed Ambani on X, using a pointed reference to India's political leadership while questioning the restrictions facing his satellite internet service.

"Prime Minister Ambani" was the form of address Musk used in his post, in which he asked whether Ambani would "consider allowing Starlink to compete".

India's government has denied favoring any company in the approval process. According to Al Jazeera, officials have maintained that three satellite internet ventures seeking to operate in the country, including Starlink and Jio's venture, are all awaiting final security clearance.

Reliance had not responded to Musk's remarks at the time of Al Jazeera's report. The competing satellite ventures therefore remained subject to the outstanding security approvals, while Jio Platforms prepared for its planned public offering.