Elon Musk has responded with “Much appreciated” to Reliance Industries’ statement defending India’s regulatory process for satellite internet services. The exchange follows a dispute over approval delays for Starlink’s proposed entry into the Indian market, with Reliance noting that its own satellite communication services are also awaiting government clearances.

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Reliance shared its response on X after Musk raised concerns about delays affecting Starlink’s India launch. The company said the government applies the same approval process to all applicants, regardless of whether they are Indian or foreign.

“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 said.

The company also stressed that it welcomes competition in satellite communications and views it as a way to improve services for consumers. Reliance maintained that all providers must comply with Indian laws and policies before offering services in the country.

Starlink, operated by Musk’s SpaceX, said it had been working with Indian regulators, industry participants and operators for more than five years in preparation for its proposed launch. The company stated that it had developed dedicated infrastructure, including gateways and systems located within India, to serve Indian traffic securely.

Starlink also said it was ready to provide high-speed internet connectivity in India, subject to the required approvals.

The exchange has renewed attention on the regulatory requirements governing satellite-based internet services in the country. Starlink, Reliance Jio’s satellite communications business and Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb are among the players seeking to establish or expand satellite connectivity services in India.

While satellite communications licences are an important part of the process, providers must also meet applicable regulatory, security and other requirements before launching commercial services. The timing of their entry will depend on the completion of the necessary approvals.

Musk’s brief response signals his acknowledgement of Reliance’s statement, but it does not by itself confirm that Starlink has received additional clearances or that a launch date has been finalised.