Reliance says Jio awaits same clearances as Musk’s Starlink

Reliance Industries says it welcomes competition from Elon Musk’s Starlink in India’s satellite internet market, adding that its own Jio satellite services are awaiting the same government clearances.

The company’s response, which was issued on Friday, was the company’s initial public statement on Musk’s claims that Indian government and business officials were holding up Starlink, routers reported.

“In light of recent remarks about Reliance and the Indian market, we wish to place the facts on record,” the company said.

“Clearances are still pending for Jio’s own satellite services”. It said that the government applies the same process to every applicant, whether Indian or foreign.

Reliance had “never feared competition, and saw it as a test of which company is best at providing services to customers.” The company claimed that every satellite service provider has to “comply with Indian laws and policies.”

Musk has been critical of the waiting times for Starlink to access India’s large telecom market. The Indian government has dismissed the charges of bias, saying its assessment process is transparent and non-discriminatory.

Starlink, which is owned by Musk’s SpaceX, and Jio’s satellite project are still waiting for security approval before beginning operations.

The row comes as Reliance’s digital unit Jio Platforms is preparing for a planned initial public offering that could value it at around $108 billion, the Reuters news agency reported.