Archive · 10 Oct 2026
Vembu Defends India’s Competition Record as Musk Challenges Starlink Delay
Sridhar Vembu says people in India can get inexpensive mobile data, medicines and digital payments.
He says competition has helped make these things affordable, and credited Jio with lowering data prices.
Vembu also said the government has encouraged competition and startups.
Elon Musk says business interests are holding back Starlink, his satellite internet company, from operating in India.
He says Starlink could help people in places without internet and during emergencies.
The Indian government says its rules are fair and do not favour one satellite company over another.
Starlink has a telecom licence, but a licence alone is not enough to begin service.
It must meet security conditions and receive spectrum.
Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio Satellite Communications also have licences.
Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu cited low data prices, affordable medicines and inexpensive UPI payments as evidence of consumer benefits from competition.
Vembu credited Reliance Jio’s launch with helping drive down mobile data prices and praised the government’s support for competition and startups.
Elon Musk alleged business interests were blocking Starlink’s entry into India and questioned the delay in its approval.
India’s Ministry of Communications called claims of discriminatory treatment baseless and said security assessments for satellite services were underway.
Starlink, Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio Satellite Communications have telecom licences, but must meet security conditions and obtain spectrum before commercial operations.
- Who
- Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu, Elon Musk, and India’s Ministry of Communications.
- What
- Vembu defended India’s competition record after Musk alleged business interests were blocking Starlink’s entry; the government rejected the allegation.
- When
- Musk made the posts on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday; the government responded on Thursday.
- Where
- India; the statements were made on X.
- Why
- Musk questioned the delay in Starlink’s approval, while Vembu argued that competition has benefited Indian consumers.
Government and Vembu
Musk
Fairness of India’s satellite-service rules
Government and Vembu
The Ministry of Communications said the authorisation framework is fair and non-discriminatory, and called claims of discriminatory treatment baseless.
Musk
Musk alleged that business interests were blocking Starlink and questioned why it had not received approval despite complying with requirements.
Competition and consumer benefits
Government and Vembu
Vembu argued that competition has helped deliver low data prices, affordable medicines and low-cost payments, and said the government encourages competition and startups.
Musk
Musk argued that Starlink should be allowed to compete, saying it could bring internet access to underserved areas and help during natural disasters.
- Vembu’s examples
- Low mobile data prices, affordable medicines and low-cost UPI payments.
- Company credited with lowering data prices
- Vembu said Reliance Jio’s launch was directly responsible for low data prices in India.
- Musk’s allegation
- He alleged that business interests were blocking Starlink’s entry into India and questioned the approval delay.
- Government response
- The Ministry of Communications called the allegation baseless and said India has a fair, non-discriminatory authorisation framework.
- Licensed satellite providers named
- Starlink, Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio Satellite Communications.
- Requirements before commercial service
- Providers must meet security conditions and obtain spectrum assignment.
- Assessment status
- The government said security assessments for satellite communication services were underway.
