PM Modi Set To Meet Elon Musk In US; Starlink’s India Entry Likely To Be Discussed: Report

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to meet billionaire tech entrepreneur Elon Musk during his two-day visit to the United States (US), with discussions expected to focus on Starlink’s long-delayed entry into India, according to sources cited by Reuters on Wednesday (13 February), reported The Hindu.

During his trip, PM Modi will also meet US President Donald Trump, where trade, tariff concessions, and economic cooperation are expected to dominate discussions.

However, Modi’s one-on-one meeting with Musk is generating interest, particularly regarding Starlink’s satellite broadband rollout in India.

Musk’s SpaceX-owned Starlink has been eager to launch satellite broadband services in India, but regulatory delays have hindered its progress.

The Indian government has backed Musk's stance that satellite spectrum should be assigned rather than auctioned, contrary to the position taken by Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Jio, which has lobbied for an auction-based approach to ensure a "level playing field."

Reliance Jio, which spent $19 billion in spectrum auctions, has expressed concerns that Starlink could pose a competitive threat to its broadband business and, in the future, its data and voice customer base as satellite technology advances.

Musk is reportedly willing to provide assurances to India regarding its security concerns, including the local storage of user data. This move could help fast-track Starlink’s licencing approval, which is still under review.

This led to Musk confirming in December 2024 that Starlink’s operations in India were inactive pending regulatory clearance.

While Tesla’s potential entry into the Indian market has been a long-standing topic of discussion, it remains uncertain if it will feature in Modi-Musk talks.

However, the discussion may touch upon increasing sourcing of electric vehicle (EV) components from India.

Musk has been vocal about India’s high import taxes on electric cars, which have stalled Tesla’s local manufacturing plans despite years of discussions with the Indian government.

PM Modi is reportedly not expected to meet any other business CEOs during his visit to the US, making his meeting with Musk the key highlight from an industry perspective.

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