Stories
Experts Question Elon Musk's Oligarch Charge And Starlink's Affordability in Rural India
N
News18•10-10-2026, 22:05
Experts Question Elon Musk's Oligarch Charge And Starlink's Affordability in Rural India
- •CNN-News18 journalists questioned Elon Musk's claim that Indian oligarchs are stalling Starlink's entry into the country.
- •Experts raised serious concerns over Starlink's high projected costs and whether rural Indian households can afford monthly and hardware fees.
- •Panelists noted that India already has extensive telecom coverage in remote areas and that multiple companies are currently awaiting regulatory and security clearances.
- •Discussions also highlighted the strategic implications of private satellite communication control, referencing past controversies involving Starlink in Ukraine.
Key Questions Answered
Starlink's reported placeholder pricing for India included a monthly cost of Rs 8,600 or more for internet usage, alongside an upfront charge of Rs 24,500 for hardware equipment.
Experts like Nalin Mehta rejected Elon Musk's allegations, stating that all three satellite internet players—including Starlink, the Ambani Group, and Airtel—are currently at the exact same stage in the regulatory process.
The critical requirement remaining for Starlink is security clearance, which must be completed before the licensing process and any commercial operations can move forward.
