Reliance Industries on Friday welcomed competition in India’s satellite communications sector, including from Elon Musk-led Starlink, while underlining that all companies must follow the country’s laws and regulatory framework to operate in the market.
The company’s response comes amid growing attention on the race to provide satellite-based internet services in India, with Starlink and Reliance’s telecom arm, Jio, seeking to establish a presence in the sector.
Reliance stresses equal rules for all players
In its statement, Reliance said it supported competition from both Indian and international companies, provided they complied with the regulations governing the sector. It also maintained that the same approval process should apply to every applicant, regardless of their country of origin.
“We welcome competition in satellite communications, including Starlink. Every player, Jio included, must serve the people of India and abide by the laws and policies of the land," Reliance said.
The company added that Jio’s satellite communication services were still awaiting regulatory clearances, highlighting that its own application was subject to the same process as those of other operators.
“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," the statement said.
Jio’s telecom entry cited as example
Reliance also pointed to Jio’s entry into India’s telecom market in 2016 to underline its position on competition. The company said Jio had entered the sector as a new player and had since built a customer base of more than 530 million.
“At Reliance, we have never feared competition. We see it as the truest test of who serves the customer best," the company said.
Highlighting Jio’s growth over the past decade, Reliance said its services had helped expand digital infrastructure and made data services among the most affordable in the world.
“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," it said.
Satellite internet competition gathers attention
Reliance said India’s investment climate had supported businesses bringing new technology and services to consumers, whether domestic or international.
“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," the company said.
The statement reinforces Reliance’s position that competition in satellite communications should be welcomed, while all operators remain subject to the same regulatory requirements.