Reliance Industries has responded to Elon Musk's recent remarks about the Indian market and its role in Starlink's entry into the country. In a statement, Reliance says that it has never feared competition and that every player must abide by Indian laws and policies. It said that the government applies the same process to every applicant, Indian or foreign, adding that Jio's own satellite services were also awaiting clearances.
SpaceX chief executive officer Musk earlier accused “certain oligarchs” of blocking efforts by SpaceX’s satellite broadband arm. He has repeatedly accused the Indian government and Ambani of stalling Starlink's years-long efforts to launch in a market of more than a billion internet subscribers.
India, on its part, has denied any bias in its approval process.
The Friday statement from Reliance did not name Musk, and comes days before Reliance Industries' digital unit Jio Platforms seeks a $108 billion valuation in India's largest IPO to date.
“In light of recent remarks about Reliance and the Indian market, we wish to place the facts on record. Like every Indian enterprise, Reliance has grown in an India that welcomes investment and innovation, homegrown or international, that improve the lives of the people,” Reliance Industries said in a statement on Friday.
“That openness rests on the rule of law. As the Government of India has stated, it applies the same process to every applicant, Indian or foreign. Jio's own satellite services await clearances,” Reliance's statement read.
“At Reliance, we have never feared competition. We see it as the truest test of who serves the customer best. Jio itself entered India's crowded telecom market in 2016 as the newest player, with not a single customer. In just ten years, Jio has earned the trust of over 530 million customers and given Indians some of the best digital infrastructure and most affordable data in the world,” the company further stated.
