Starlink, Ambani’s venture should get equal treatment, let consumers decide: Shashi Tharoor

Thiruvananthapuram: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Monday said that SpaceX CEO Elon Musk's Starlink and other companies seeking to enter India's satellite internet market should be allowed to go through the same process, adding that the government has said all companies are facing the same delays.

Reacting to Musk's recent remarks regarding Starlink, speaking to ANI, Tharoor said that if the government's explanation is taken literally, neither Musk nor Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambhas an advantage in the process.

Also Read: Elon Musk's Starlink responds to Reliance, says ‘ready to connect India’ with high-speed internet


"I've heard the government's explanation on this issue, which is that there is a process and that all the companies bidding for this are in the same process and are facing the same delays. If that position of the government is taken literally, that means Musk is no further behind in the queue, and Ambani is no further ahead. I think we just have to wait for the process to play itself out," he said.

Tharoor said several factors, including technology, security concerns, technical details and cost, would determine the outcome, while the final choice would rest with consumers.

"There are several factors. There are questions of the technology, certain security concerns, various kinds of details to do with the uplinking and finally cost. The last one, the ordinary public will decide. If you are giving me a service and he's giving it to me for 10 times the price, I may take it from you. Or if I really feel that what he's doing is worth 10 times the money, I'll give it to him. Each subscriber will have to decide," he said.

Tharoor added that he was satisfied with his existing internet connections and was not personally looking for Starlink services.

"Personally, I'm quite happy with my regular connections. I'm not looking for a Starlink myself. But if there are people who feel these things are useful, in a free country, let them have the opportunity," he said.

Earlier on October 9, Musk called the situation surrounding Starlink's efforts to enter the Indian market "troubling" in response to Leader of the Opposition (LoP)Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, who weighed in on Musk's allegations that the satellite communications company had been unable to secure a licence in India despite complying with the country's laws and requirements.

"Thank you, Rahul. This is indeed troubling," Musk said in a post on X.

Also Read: Reliance Industries welcomes Starlink competition while urging compliance with Indian laws

Gandhi had earlier replied to Musk's post, which claimed that Starlink was unable to secure a licence despite complying with Indian laws and requirements for five years.

"Welcome to India, Elon. Wait till you discover the other guy," Gandhi wrote on X.

In an earlier post, Musk questioned the delay in granting Starlink a licence, saying the company was authorised to operate in more than 165 countries.

"Starlink is licensed in over 165 countries and has spent five years complying with every single law and requirement of the government of India, so why still no license? Is Ambani the real boss of India?" Musk wrote.

The exchange comes amid a public debate over the regulatory process for Starlink, SpaceX's satellite-based internet service, and Musk's allegations that vested interests are obstructing the company's entry into the Indian market.

The Ministry of Communications had earlier rejected claims that vested interests were targeting Starlink's plans in India, maintaining that the country's regulatory framework for telecommunications services, including satellite communications, was fair and non-discriminatory.