Elon Musk’s positive response to Reliance’s Starlink statement comes as Trump denies restricting Ukraine’s access to the military-focused Starshield network. (Images: Dynamite News)
Washington DC/Mumbai: The dispute surrounding Starlink’s proposed entry into India’s satellite internet market appears to be taking a softer turn after Elon Musk welcomed a statement from Reliance Industries. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has denied restricting Ukraine’s access to Starshield, SpaceX’s military-grade satellite network, amid concerns over its role in Kyiv’s defence against Russian attacks.
Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) recently welcomed Starlink to India’s satellite communications sector, saying it had never been afraid of competition. Musk responded to the statement on X with the words, “Much appreciated,” prompting speculation that tensions surrounding Starlink’s Indian entry could be easing. Reliance stressed that all companies, including Jio and Starlink, must comply with Indian laws and policies. It also said the government follows the same approval process for domestic and foreign applicants.
The company noted that Jio’s satellite services were also awaiting necessary approvals. Reliance added that Jio had entered India’s competitive telecom market in 2016 without customers and had since built a base of more than 530 million subscribers.
Although Starlink has received a licence to provide satellite communication services in India. It still requires security clearances and other approvals before launching commercial operations. Musk had recently criticised the Indian government and local businesses over the market-entry process. The government has maintained that satellite communication applications are assessed through a fair, non-discriminatory procedure. Musk’s positive response to Reliance does not, however, confirm that all differences have been resolved.
Separately, Trump denied limiting Ukraine’s access to Starshield after restrictions affecting drone operations reportedly hampered Kyiv’s ability to defend itself against Russian attacks. Starlink is SpaceX’s civilian high-speed internet network, while Starshield is its military-focused counterpart developed for government and defence requirements, including those of the Pentagon.
The two developments have renewed attention on Musk’s satellite technology, its growing geopolitical significance and the role of private companies in communications infrastructure and national security.
