PM Modi to meet Elon Musk in U.S.; Starlink’s India push and high-stakes telecom battle in focus

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to meet billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk during his visit to the United States this week, with Starlink’s long-delayed expansion into India expected to be a key point of discussion, Reuters reported.

Modi’s two-day trip, which begins Wednesday, marks his first meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump since the latter’s re-election. Trade policies and tariff concessions are expected to dominate their talks, but a separate one-on-one meeting between Modi and Musk could pave the way for critical discussions on satellite broadband services in India.

According to the Reuters report, Modi’s government anticipates that resolving Starlink’s licensing roadblocks will be a priority. The satellite internet provider has been entangled in a regulatory impasse despite New Delhi’s preference for direct spectrum allocation instead of auctions—an issue that has put Musk’s SpaceX at odds with Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani.

Reliance Jio has fiercely advocated for spectrum auctions, arguing that foreign players like Starlink should not be given an unfair advantage. In November last year, Jio wrote to India’s telecom regulator, TRAI, urging that spectrum be auctioned rather than assigned, citing the need for a level playing field for domestic telecom operators. The company has already invested $19 billion in spectrum acquisitions and sees Starlink as a formidable competitor in the broadband space.

Musk’s satellite venture has faced multiple hurdles in India, including a government crackdown that led to the seizure of two of its devices—one in an armed conflict zone and another during an anti-narcotics operation.

While it remains unclear whether Tesla’s India entry will feature in Modi’s discussions with Musk, sources told Reuters that increased sourcing of electric vehicle components from India is likely to be on the agenda.