SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has alleged that “certain oligarchs” are blocking his satellite internet company Starlink from starting services in India, claiming they are trying to protect their hold over the country’s
telecom market.
Musk made the comments on X while responding to a post by a handle that highlighted the lack of mobile connectivity in thousands of Indian villages.
“Unfortunately, we are being blocked by certain oligarchs in order to maintain their monopolistic chokehold on the Indian people. You can guess who they are … This is a crime against the people of India!” Musk wrote.
Unfortunately, we are being blocked by certain oligarchs in order to maintain their monopolistic chokehold on the Indian people. You can guess who they are …
This is a crime against the people of India! https://t.co/t3YONgpcm7
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 7, 2026
Musk did not name any company or individual in his post.
The account, DodgeDesigner, cited figures suggesting that 11,256 listed villages in India still lacked 4G coverage as of May 2026. It also pointed to gaps in the rollout of BharatNet, the government’s rural broadband programme.
DodgeDesigner stated that BharatNet had laid more than 850,000 route-km of fibre and made around 221,000 Gram Panchayats service-ready. However, it said only 80,472 Gram Panchayats had operational Points of Presence as of June 2026.
“Only 4.26% of India’s internet subscriptions were wired connections in March 2026. Starlink could give underserved communities another route to high-speed broadband,” it added.
