Airtel Sunil Bharti Mittal React On Elon Musk-Mukesh Ambani controversy: Bharti Airtel Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal has entered the ongoing controversy over licensing the satellite internet service Starlink of the world’s richest man and owner of Tesla and Starlink, Elon Musk in India. When Elon Musk attacked the Modi government regarding the license, Sunil Bharti Mittal has responded. Sunil Mittal said that I am already in the line. You are in line after me. In such a situation, how can you be given the first chance?
Let us tell you that American industrialist Elon Musk had raised questions on the Modi government on the pretext of Mukesh Ambani regarding the delay in the entry of Starlink in India. On social media platform X, he even asked whether Ambani is the real boss of India? Musk alleged that due to the dominance of companies like Jio, his satellite internet service is not being approved in India.
Now Bharti Enterprises Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal has entered this controversy. Sunil Mittal says that his company Airtel had applied to start satellite based internet service 5 years ago and its ground network has been ready for three years. It has become clear from his answer that not only Musk’s Starlink but also Indian companies are waiting for approval to start satellite based internet service in India. With this reply of Sunil Bharti Mittal, Musk’s allegations and claims have been blown to pieces.
I am much ahead of Musk in the queue: Sunil Mittal
Sunil Bharti Mittal spoke on this issue from the platform of ‘Bloomberg New Economy Forum 2026’. He said that Airtel had applied for this 5 years ago. Our ground network has been ready for three years. We are waiting for all the approvals and I think I am way ahead of Elon Musk in the queue. Mittal further said that my company’s satellites have been present over India for the last 5 years, but due to lack of permission, the services could not be started. If my company gets approval a few days before Starlink, I will be happy.
Musk targets government on the pretext of Ambani
The controversy over Starlink’s launch in India intensified when Elon Musk accused X that some big business interests were putting obstacles in the way of his company. He called it an attempt to maintain monopoly on the market. After this, Musk took the name of Ambani and asked whether he is the real boss of India. Responding to his post, Rahul Gandhi wrote, ‘Welcome to India, Elon. Wait to know about that other person. On Rahul’s response, Musk said, ‘Thank you Rahul. This is really disturbing.
Why is the battle for satellite internet important in India?
Satellite Internet can become a means of providing connectivity in those areas where it is difficult to lay mobile towers or fiber networks. This technology can prove useful in hilly areas, remote villages and parts of the country where internet access is limited. Apart from Starlink, Bharti Airtel Group company Eutelsat OneWeb and Reliance’s Jio Satcom are also present in this market. In such a situation, the rules related to approval are working with the same impartiality not only for Musk’s company Starlink, but also for Indian companies.
Elon Musk has accused India earlier also
Let us tell you that this is not the first time that Elon Musk has accused India. Musk has already alleged that some big businessmen in India want to maintain their dominance in the market by stopping the entry of Starlink. However, the central government has rejected these allegations.