Reliance Jio and Starlink compete for supremacy in the Indian satellite broadband sector.

 Reliance Jio and Starlink compete for supremacy in the Indian satellite broadband sector.

 Elon Musk and Mukesh Ambani are vying for supremacy in India's developing satellite broadband industry, and their rivalry is getting more intense. The stage is set for a bitter confrontation after the Indian government chose to distribute satellite spectrum administratively rather than through an auction. While Ambani's Reliance Jio has previously teamed with Luxembourg-based SES, which utilizes medium-Earth orbit (MEO) satellites, Musk's Starlink, which employs low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, is set to enter the Indian market.

The stakes are high because satellite broadband has the potential to close the digital divide in India by providing internet access to remote regions. Both billionaires hold different opinions about how the spectrum should be distributed; Musk supports the administrative model, which is in line with international norms, while Ambani advocates for an auction. Although spectrum pricing has not yet been announced by India's telecom regulator, estimates suggest that two million people could be using satellite internet by 2025.

With almost 40% of the population still without internet connection, this competition highlights the enormous potential of the Indian market. Ambani and Musk are both trying to get into this unexplored market, but pricing will be crucial, particularly in a nation where mobile internet is among the least expensive in the world. Price war is predicted by analysts, with Musk's substantial wealth perhaps providing Starlink with a competitive advantage. However, difficulties still exist because Starlink's prices are greater than those of regional suppliers.