Elon Musk said Tuesday (Oct 20) that he would back a merger of SpaceX and Tesla, as his rocket and AI company reported its first quarterly profit since going public, driven by deals to rent out computing power to AI firms. Asked about a possible tie-up on a call with analysts, Musk said he felt he was "tap dancing through a minefield," but noted that a combination would be "a good idea." Shares in SpaceX shot up nearly five per cent in after-hours trading following the comments.<h2>Committees set up to study the deal</h2>Musk said special committees of independent directors at both SpaceX and Tesla have been set up to study the idea at the request of shareholders. He added that he could not take part in their talks because he has a conflict of interest. Musk is chief executive of both companies, and also serves as chairman and chief technology officer of SpaceX.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/starlink-says-ready-to-connect-india-with-high-speed-internet-amid-reliance-row-1792206635252">Starlink says 'ready to connect India with high-speed internet' amid Reliance row</a>As of June 30, he owns 48.4 per cent of SpaceX, according to a regulatory filing, and controls more than 82 per cent of its voting power through super-voting shares. He holds about 20 per cent of Tesla. The committees have not agreed on the terms of any deal and there is no guarantee they will, Musk said, cautioning that it would be overstating it to treat a merger as a certainty. Any deal would need the backing of a majority of all Tesla shares, not just those cast in a vote, which Musk called "quite a high hurdle."He said the two companies could gain from working together on AI software, chip design, robotics and space-based computing.<h2>First profit, AI-led turnaround</h2>His remarks came after SpaceX posted net income of $4.4 billion for the July-September period, compared with a loss of $1.1 billion a year earlier. Revenue jumped 161 per cent to $14.6 billion. The quarterly results follow a bumpy start on Wall Street. SpaceX began trading on the Nasdaq on June 12 after an IPO priced at $135 a share that raised about $85.7 billion. Its first earnings report as a listed company showed second-quarter revenue of $7.8 billion and a net loss of $541 million.The AI division, which SpaceX now calls "Super Intelligence," (inspired by US President Donald Trump's push to call Artificial intelligence by this name) drove the turnaround. The unit's revenue rose more than nine times from a year earlier to $7.6 billion, overtaking the Starlink satellite internet business as the company's largest source of sales. SpaceX credited new cloud services agreements, wider adoption of its Grok chatbot and its acquisition of Cursor, an AI coding startup. Cloud customers include Anthropic, which agreed in May to pay nearly $45 billion over three years for computing power at SpaceX's Colossus data centers, and Google, which signed on in June to pay $920 million a month from October through June 2029.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/inside-tesla-s-roadster-10-features-of-elon-musk-s-flying-car-that-push-the-limits-of-electric-vehicles-in-pics-1792121766476">Inside Tesla's Roadster: 10 features of Elon Musk's 'flying car' that push the limits of electric vehicles | In Pics</a><h2>Heavy spending, big ambitions</h2>The AI unit turned an operating profit of $431 million, compared with a loss of $1.7 billion a year earlier. Spending remains heavy. SpaceX invested $19.6 billion in the quarter, $16.4 billion of it in AI, bringing capital spending for the first nine months of the year to $48 billion. Its computing capacity reached 1.7 gigawatts, up from 0.6 gigawatts a year earlier. Musk said he was "fairly confident" SpaceX could bring an additional 10 gigawatts of computing capacity online in 2027, on top of the roughly 2.5 to 3.0 gigawatts expected by year-end, though he added that power, cooling and electrical equipment were "somewhat of a limiting factor."Revenue at the Starlink unit grew 69 per cent to $5.2 billion, and consumer subscribers reached 13.6 million, though average monthly revenue per consumer fell to $69 from $83 a year earlier. SpaceX also completed the first revenue-generating flight of Starship, the giant rocket central to Musk's Mars ambitions, carrying 26 next-generation Starlink satellites into orbit.

Musk says a SpaceX-Tesla merger would be "a good idea" as his rocket firm posts its first quarterly profit, $4.4 billion, driven by an AI division that overtook Starlink. Directors' committees are studying the deal, but Musk warns it is far from certain. Read on.


Elon Musk said Tuesday (Oct 20) that he would back a merger of SpaceX and Tesla, as his rocket and AI company reported its first quarterly profit since going public, driven by deals to rent out computing power to AI firms. Asked about a possible tie-up on a call with analysts, Musk said he felt he was "tap dancing through a minefield," but noted that a combination would be "a good idea." Shares in SpaceX shot up nearly five per cent in after-hours trading following the comments. Committees set up to study the deal Musk said special committees of independent directors at both SpaceX and Tesla have been set up to study the idea at the request of shareholders. He added that he could not take part in their talks because he has a conflict of interest. Musk is chief executive of both companies, and also serves as chairman and chief technology officer of SpaceX. Also read | Starlink says 'ready to connect India with high-speed internet' amid Reliance row As of June 30, he owns 48.4 per cent of SpaceX, according to a regulatory filing, and controls more than 82 per cent of its voting power through super-voting shares. He holds about 20 per cent of Tesla. The committees have not agreed on the terms of any deal and there is no guarantee they will, Musk said, cautioning that it would be overstating it to treat a merger as a certainty. Any deal would need the backing of a majority of all Tesla shares, not just those cast in a vote, which Musk called "quite a high hurdle." He said the two companies could gain from working together on AI software, chip design, robotics and space-based computing. First profit, AI-led turnaround His remarks came after SpaceX posted net income of $4.4 billion for the July-September period, compared with a loss of $1.1 billion a year earlier. Revenue jumped 161 per cent to $14.6 billion. The quarterly results follow a bumpy start on Wall Street. SpaceX began trading on the Nasdaq on June 12 after an IPO priced at $135 a share that raised about $85.7 billion. Its first earnings report as a listed company showed second-quarter revenue of $7.8 billion and a net loss of $541 million. The AI division, which SpaceX now calls "Super Intelligence," (inspired by US President Donald Trump's push to call Artificial intelligence by this name) drove the turnaround. The unit's revenue rose more than nine times from a year earlier to $7.6 billion, overtaking the Starlink satellite internet business as the company's largest source of sales. SpaceX credited new cloud services agreements, wider adoption of its Grok chatbot and its acquisition of Cursor, an AI coding startup. Cloud customers include Anthropic, which agreed in May to pay nearly $45 billion over three years for computing power at SpaceX's Colossus data centers, and Google, which signed on in June to pay $920 million a month from October through June 2029. Also read | Inside Tesla's Roadster: 10 features of Elon Musk's 'flying car' that push the limits of electric vehicles | In Pics Heavy spending, big ambitions The AI unit turned an operating profit of $431 million, compared with a loss of $1.7 billion a year earlier. Spending remains heavy. SpaceX invested $19.6 billion in the quarter, $16.4 billion of it in AI, bringing capital spending for the first nine months of the year to $48 billion. Its computing capacity reached 1.7 gigawatts, up from 0.6 gigawatts a year earlier. Musk said he was "fairly confident" SpaceX could bring an additional 10 gigawatts of computing capacity online in 2027, on top of the roughly 2.5 to 3.0 gigawatts expected by year-end, though he added that power, cooling and electrical equipment were "somewhat of a limiting factor." Revenue at the Starlink unit grew 69 per cent to $5.2 billion, and consumer subscribers reached 13.6 million, though average monthly revenue per consumer fell to $69 from $83 a year earlier. SpaceX also completed the first revenue-generating flight of Starship, the giant rocket central to Musk's Mars ambitions, carrying 26 next-generation Starlink satellites into orbit.

Musk says a SpaceX-Tesla merger would be "a good idea" as his rocket firm posts its first quarterly profit, $4.4 billion, driven by an AI division that overtook Starlink. Directors' committees are studying the deal, but Musk warns it is far from certain. Read on.

'Tap dancing through a minefield': Musk backs SpaceX-Tesla merger as AI boom fuels rocket firm's first profit

Elon Musk has made a promise to the children of the United States. The SpaceX founder and CEO announced in an X post on Monday that he will give one share of his space company to each child in the country. "Next year, I will give one of my SpaceX (SPCX) shares to every kid in America. This will be the first of many," he said. Notably, the company's stock rose 1 per cent in premarket trading on Monday. It is currently trading at around $149.&nbsp;He did not specify an age range or which children will be eligible. How it will work and other details are also yet to be revealed. &nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Next year, I will give one of my SpaceX shares to every kid in America.

This will be the first of many.&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/2112089556615123114?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 19, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Musk's announcement came just hours after Anthropic said it would set aside 5 per cent of its shares for donations that benefit the "public good".&nbsp;<h2>How much would that money be?</h2>&nbsp;According to estimates from the US Census Bureau, there are about 72 million children under the age of 18 in the US. SpaceX stock was trading at $146 per share on Friday, which brings the value of the donation to about US$10.5 billion. There are about 18.5 million of them between the stages of newborn and 4 years old.&nbsp;Musk's plan poses several practical questions. He did not specify how eligible children would receive the shares. It is possible that parents or guardians would manage them. It is also unclear whether there would be restrictions on selling or transferring the stock.<h2>Can minors hold stocks in the US?</h2> Yes, minors are free to hold shares in the United States. However, since they are not eligible to sign contracts, they cannot directly open an independent standard brokerage account or trade on their own. Kids do so through specialised accounts set up and managed by an adult or through specific teen accounts.<h2>Trump Accounts</h2> Children in the US already have a financial stake in the market. Earlier this month, children under 18 were automatically enrolled in Trump Accounts as part of an initiative by the Treasury Department. As part of the federal savings and investment program, children born between 2025 and the end of 2028 qualify for a one-time $1,000 government contribution. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has announced plans to give one share to each of the children in the United States. He wrote about it on X on Monday morning, without giving details about how he would go about it and the age limit.

Elon Musk has made a promise to the children of the United States. The SpaceX founder and CEO announced in an X post on Monday that he will give one share of his space company to each child in the country. "Next year, I will give one of my SpaceX (SPCX) shares to every kid in America. This will be the first of many," he said. Notably, the company's stock rose 1 per cent in premarket trading on Monday. It is currently trading at around $149. He did not specify an age range or which children will be eligible. How it will work and other details are also yet to be revealed.

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has announced plans to give one share to each of the children in the United States. He wrote about it on X on Monday morning, without giving details about how he would go about it, and the age limit.

Elon Musk will give away one SpaceX share to each American child. That comes to $10.5bn

SpaceX shares rose 1.5% in premarket trading on Monday despite the delay to its Bandwagon-5 mission, after CEO Elon Musk pledged to give one of his company's shares to every child in the United States next year. The stock traded near $148.27 before the open, up from Friday's close of $146.03. Musk announced the plan on X."Next year, I will give one of my SpaceX shares to every kid in America. This will be the first of many," wrote Musk.There are roughly 72 million Americans under 18. At Friday's price, one share each would be worth a little over $10.5 billion. That is roughly 1% of Musk's estimated net worth of more than $900 billion, most of which is held in SpaceX and Tesla stock.There are no details about the eligibility, age limits, citizenship requirements, and how shares would be delivered or how the gift would be funded. The company had no immediate comment on those questions&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australian-mp-helen-haines-critical-condition-suv-incident-1792411169857">Australian MP Helen Haines in critical condition after being hit by SUV</a>The pledge followed an exchange with Anthropic over the AI company's plans to dedicate part of its equity to public benefit. Musk urged Anthropic to give shares directly to the public, then said that was what he would do himself.It also comes amid scrutiny of technology companies' effects on society. SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell said in July that she would gift a share to each of 2 million "Trump Accounts," a federal savings vehicle for children. That gift is now worth nearly $300 million.The Treasury Department this month automatically enrolled millions of minors in the accounts. Children born from 2025 through 2028 are eligible for a one-time $1,000 government contribution.SpaceX went public in June at $135 per share in the largest IPO on record. Musk holds about 42% of the shares but roughly 82% of the voting power.<h2>Delay in Bandwagon-5&nbsp;</h2>The Bandwagon-5 rideshare launch, which will carry multiple satellite payloads aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, was rescheduled to October 20. While the specific reason for the delay was not immediately disclosed, reports suggest it was rescheduled amid operational planning changes, with the US Federal Aviation Administration listing the revised launch window as October 20, from around 6.30 pm in local time and a backup opportunity on October 21. The specific reason for the rescheduling has not been confirmed in the cited reports, so it would be premature to attribute it to a technical fault or weather conditions.&nbsp;

The delay of Bandwagon-5 did not prevent SpaceX shares from climbing about 1.5% to around $148.27 before the market opened, up from Friday's close of $146.03.

SpaceX shares rose 1.5% in premarket trading on Monday despite the delay to its Bandwagon-5 mission, after CEO Elon Musk pledged to give one of his company's shares to every child in the United States next year. The stock traded near $148.27 before the open, up from Friday's close of $146.03. Musk announced the plan on X. "Next year, I will give one of my SpaceX shares to every kid in America. This will be the first of many," wrote Musk. There are roughly 72 million Americans under 18. At Friday's price, one share each would be worth a little over $10.5 billion. That is roughly 1% of Musk's estimated net worth of more than $900 billion, most of which is held in SpaceX and Tesla stock. There are no details about the eligibility, age limits, citizenship requirements, and how shares would be delivered or how the gift would be funded. The company had no immediate comment on those questions Also Read: Australian MP Helen Haines in critical condition after being hit by SUV The pledge followed an exchange with Anthropic over the AI company's plans to dedicate part of its equity to public benefit. Musk urged Anthropic to give shares directly to the public, then said that was what he would do himself. It also comes amid scrutiny of technology companies' effects on society. SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell said in July that she would gift a share to each of 2 million "Trump Accounts," a federal savings vehicle for children. That gift is now worth nearly $300 million. The Treasury Department this month automatically enrolled millions of minors in the accounts. Children born from 2025 through 2028 are eligible for a one-time $1,000 government contribution. SpaceX went public in June at $135 per share in the largest IPO on record. Musk holds about 42% of the shares but roughly 82% of the voting power. Delay in Bandwagon-5 The Bandwagon-5 rideshare launch, which will carry multiple satellite payloads aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, was rescheduled to October 20. While the specific reason for the delay was not immediately disclosed, reports suggest it was rescheduled amid operational planning changes, with the US Federal Aviation Administration listing the revised launch window as October 20, from around 6.30 pm in local time and a backup opportunity on October 21. The specific reason for the rescheduling has not been confirmed in the cited reports, so it would be premature to attribute it to a technical fault or weather conditions.

The delay of Bandwagon-5 did not prevent SpaceX shares from climbing about 1.5% to around $148.27 before the market opened, up from Friday's close of $146.03.

SpaceX shares climb despite Bandwagon-5 delay after Musk’s gift pledge to US children

A Dussehra poster in Uttar Pradesh's Lucknow has featured Tesla CEO Elon Musk, American Congresswoman Ilhan Omar and others as faces of Ravana, sparking a major controversy. The posters, titled "Bharat Virodhi Dashanan Ravan", shows these international public figures and opposition leaders as alleged opponents of India's interests. They were reportedly installed at several intersections in the Uttar Pradesh capital by an organisation called the Sanatan Raksha Sangathan.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/real-boss-of-india-elon-musk-escalates-attack-over-starlink-s-india-entry-1791566088852">‘Real boss of India’: Elon Musk escalates attack over Starlink’s India entry</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">#WATCH | Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh: Posters featuring the slogan &quot;Sanatan Bharat Ke Virodhi Ravan&quot; have been put up at several locations across the city. 

The posters display images of Akhilesh Yadav, Atiq Ahmed, Azam Khan, Mukhtar Ansari, Rahul Gandhi, Elon Musk, George Soros, and others. 

The posters have been put up by the 'Sanatan Raksha Sangathan'.&mdash; ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://x.com/ANINewsUP/status/2111676631240896655?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/kolkata-durga-pandal-tragedy-prosenjit-chatterjee-dev-and-other-celebs-share-condolences-after-deadly-stampede-1792326080761">Kolkata Durga Pandal tragedy: Prosenjit Chatterjee, Dev and other celebs share condolences after deadly stampede</a> The artwork draws on Ravana, the ten-headed figure from the Ramayana whose effigies are burnt during Dussehra celebrations. Gangster-politician Atiq Ahmad is depicted as Ravana, while other faces include Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Mukhtar Ansari, US billionaire Elon Musk, American Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, Bangladesh's Muhammad Yunus, investor George Soros and lawyer Prashant Bhushan.&nbsp;&nbsp;The inclusion of Musk comes days after he raised voice against the Indian government over Starlink's commercial approval in India. He accused unnamed "oligarchs" of blocking the service's launch to maintain a monopolistic chokehold on the market. In a series of posts on X, Musk went as far as mockingly referring to Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani as the "real boss of India" and sarcastically addressing him as "Prime Minister Ambani".&nbsp;&nbsp;Samajwadi Party MP Awadhesh Prasad accused the BJP of being unsettled by Akhilesh Yadav's growing popularity ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. A video also showed a Samajwadi Party worker taking down one of the posters erected in a public place in Lucknow. Prasad also claimed that the BJP was concerned about the Samajwadi Party chief's growing public support and credibility. “The 2027 elections are approaching and the BJP is worried about the growing popularity and credibility of Akhilesh Yadav. As the elections draw closer, their anxiety is increasing. That is why such things are being done through posters, false statements and misleading claims. However, all these efforts will fail,” Prasad said.

Elon Musk, Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav, Ilhan Omar and other public figures have featured on controversial Dussehra posters in Lucknow, depicting them as alleged opponents of India's interests. 

A Dussehra poster in Uttar Pradesh's Lucknow has featured Tesla CEO Elon Musk, American Congresswoman Ilhan Omar and others as faces of Ravana, sparking a major controversy. The posters, titled "Bharat Virodhi Dashanan Ravan", shows these international public figures and opposition leaders as alleged opponents of India's interests. They were reportedly installed at several intersections in the Uttar Pradesh capital by an organisation called the Sanatan Raksha Sangathan. Also Read: ‘Real boss of India’: Elon Musk escalates attack over Starlink’s India entry

Elon Musk, Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav, Ilhan Omar and other public figures have featured on controversial Dussehra posters in Lucknow, depicting them as alleged opponents of India's interests.&nbsp;

Elon Musk features on Lucknow's 'anti-India' Ravan poster alongside Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh

Elon Musk's Starlink has said it is ready to provide high-speed satellite internet services in India, as the public dispute with Reliance Industries over competition and market access intensifies. In a post on X on Friday (Oct 16), Starlink said it had spent more than five years working with Indian regulators, industry stakeholders and operators to prepare for its entry into the market. “We have worked closely with regulators, industry and operators in India for 5+ years, and built a network of dedicated systems, gateways, and other infrastructure all in-country to exclusively serve Indian traffic safely and securely - and all with the requisite government approvals,” the company said.“Starlink is ready to connect India with high-speed internet,” it added.<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn3.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2026/20261017/image-1792208616671.png"></figure>The statement followed Reliance Industries' response to Musk's allegations that vested interests were trying to prevent Starlink from entering India's satellite communications market. Reliance welcomed competition, including from Starlink, but said all companies must follow Indian laws and regulatory requirements.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/starlink-row-india-rejects-musk-s-monopoly-accusation-reveals-amazon-also-in-satellite-internet-race-1791533852541">Starlink row: India rejects Musk’s ‘monopoly’ accusation, reveals Amazon also in satellite internet race</a><h2>Reliance says all operators must follow the rules</h2>In a X post earlier in the day, Reliance said India welcomes both domestic and foreign investment, provided companies operate within the country's legal framework. It also noted that Jio's own satellite services were awaiting clearances.“That openness rests on the rule of law. 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."<h2>Starlink row: Musk's accusations</h2>Musk, the chief executive of SpaceX, had previously sarcastically addressed Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani as “Prime Minister Ambani” and accused him of seeking to preserve a monopoly.Reliance's response rejected the suggestion that it feared competition and emphasised the need for equal regulatory treatment.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/wait-till-you-rahul-gandhi-takes-a-swipe-as-musk-s-ambani-real-boss-of-india-remark-triggers-x-subscription-cancellations-starlink-row-1791512600230">‘Wait till you discover the other guy’: Rahul Gandhi takes a swipe as Musk's 'Ambani real boss of India' remark triggers X subscription cancellations</a><h2>Government says security clearances remain essential</h2>Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has said the government would not allow a monopoly in satellite communications. He also said three parties were awaiting final approval for commercial licences.Scindia said the government was close to a decision on the pricing framework for satellite communication services. He stressed that licensed operators, including Starlink, must meet security requirements before beginning commercial operations. &nbsp;

Starlink says it is ready to bring high-speed satellite internet to India after more than five years of engagement with local stakeholders. The statement comes amid a public dispute with Reliance over competition, regulatory access and the rules governing satellite communications.


Elon Musk's Starlink has said it is ready to provide high-speed satellite internet services in India, as the public dispute with Reliance Industries over competition and market access intensifies. In a post on X on Friday (Oct 16), Starlink said it had spent more than five years working with Indian regulators, industry stakeholders and operators to prepare for its entry into the market. “We have worked closely with regulators, industry and operators in India for 5+ years, and built a network of dedicated systems, gateways, and other infrastructure all in-country to exclusively serve Indian traffic safely and securely - and all with the requisite government approvals,” the company said. “Starlink is ready to connect India with high-speed internet,” it added. The statement followed Reliance Industries' response to Musk's allegations that vested interests were trying to prevent Starlink from entering India's satellite communications market. Reliance welcomed competition, including from Starlink, but said all companies must follow Indian laws and regulatory requirements. Also read | Starlink row: India rejects Musk’s ‘monopoly’ accusation, reveals Amazon also in satellite internet race Reliance says all operators must follow the rules In a X post earlier in the day, Reliance said India welcomes both domestic and foreign investment, provided companies operate within the country's legal framework. It also noted that Jio's own satellite services were awaiting clearances. “That openness rests on the rule of law. 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." Starlink row: Musk's accusations Musk, the chief executive of SpaceX, had previously sarcastically addressed Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani as “Prime Minister Ambani” and accused him of seeking to preserve a monopoly. Reliance's response rejected the suggestion that it feared competition and emphasised the need for equal regulatory treatment. Also read | ‘Wait till you discover the other guy’: Rahul Gandhi takes a swipe as Musk's 'Ambani real boss of India' remark triggers X subscription cancellations Government says security clearances remain essential Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has said the government would not allow a monopoly in satellite communications. He also said three parties were awaiting final approval for commercial licences. Scindia said the government was close to a decision on the pricing framework for satellite communication services. He stressed that licensed operators, including Starlink, must meet security requirements before beginning commercial operations.

Starlink says it is ready to bring high-speed satellite internet to India after more than five years of engagement with local stakeholders. The statement comes amid a public dispute with Reliance over competition, regulatory access and the rules governing satellite communications.

Starlink says 'ready to connect India with high-speed internet' amid Reliance row

Billionaire Elon Musk has provided a major financial boost to Republican Ken Paxton's Texas Senate campaign, with $158 million in September donations routed through political groups supporting the candidate, according to campaign-finance filings released on Thursday. Musk, the world's richest person and a Texas resident with extensive business interests in the state, sent the money to a super PAC that subsequently transferred the same amount to a group backing Paxton's Senate bid.&nbsp;The contributions rank among the largest ever recorded in American politics and could help Paxton remain financially competitive against Democratic opponent James Talarico, whose campaign has significantly outraised him. Republicans in Texas have grown increasingly concerned about the contest, one of the most expensive and closely watched races of the year. The party faces the prospect of losing a statewide election in Texas for the first time in more than three decades.<h2>How Musk's $158 million reached the Paxton campaign?</h2>Campaign-finance filings show that Musk donated $75 million to the Senate Leadership Fund, the leading super PAC supporting Senate Republicans, on September 9. He contributed another $83 million on September 23. On each occasion, the super PAC transferred an identical amount to Texas PAC the following day. The group had been established by the Senate Leadership Fund to support Paxton's campaign.&nbsp;The money transferred to Texas PAC was not necessarily Musk's own contribution, and super PAC officials have publicly said they were seeking additional donations to fund their pro-Paxton efforts. Nevertheless, without Musk's record-breaking contributions, such a substantial sum would have been unlikely to reach the group supporting Paxton, according to the report. It is unusual for an individual donor to be so closely linked to such a large financial commitment benefiting a single candidate. The New York Times reported earlier in the week on Musk's contributions to the Senate Leadership Fund and the possibility that the money would ultimately support Paxton. The latest filings provide further details about how the transfers occurred.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-midterms-2026-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-donates-1-million-to-abdul-el-sayed-s-as-michigan-race-heats-up-1792183971867">US midterms 2026: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez donates $1 million to Abdul El-Sayed’s as Michigan race heats up</a><h2>Musk also donated $10 million to another pro-Paxton group</h2>Beyond the $158 million routed through the Senate Leadership Fund, Musk contributed another $10 million to a separate super PAC supporting Paxton. That donation enabled the group to begin airing television advertisements in late August. Musk lives in Austin and has extensive business interests in Texas. Paxton, meanwhile, serves as the state's attorney general, a position that gives his office regulatory responsibilities involving businesses operating in Texas, including Musk's companies. The two men have been political allies in the state.<h2>Musk targets Paxton's Democratic rival</h2>Despite his substantial financial involvement, Musk has generally shown limited public or private enthusiasm for individual candidates in this year's midterm elections. He has rarely posted on X, his social media platform, about Republican nominees. In recent days, however, he has published several critical posts about Talarico. Talarico has made the political influence of billionaires, including Musk, a central issue on the campaign trail. The dispute highlights the growing role of wealthy donors and outside political groups in high-profile election contests, where super PACs can spend substantial sums independently to support candidates.<h2>Texas Senate race draws national attention</h2>The Texas Senate contest has emerged as one of the most closely watched races of the election cycle, with both parties recognising its potential implications for control of the chamber. Paxton's financial position has been a concern for Republicans as Talarico has raised substantially more money through his campaign. Musk's contributions offer a significant source of financial support for groups backing the Republican candidate, potentially helping them sustain advertising and other campaign efforts.&nbsp;The scale of the donations also underscores Musk's growing influence in American political fundraising, as wealthy individuals and political action committees direct substantial resources towards pivotal Senate contests. With the race attracting national attention and large financial commitments from both sides, the contest between Paxton and Talarico is expected to remain a major focus as election day approaches.

Elon Musk's $158 million in donations flowed through a Republican super PAC to support Ken Paxton's Texas Senate campaign against Democrat James Talarico

Billionaire Elon Musk has provided a major financial boost to Republican Ken Paxton's Texas Senate campaign, with $158 million in September donations routed through political groups supporting the candidate, according to campaign-finance filings released on Thursday. Musk, the world's richest person and a Texas resident with extensive business interests in the state, sent the money to a super PAC that subsequently transferred the same amount to a group backing Paxton's Senate bid. The contributions rank among the largest ever recorded in American politics and could help Paxton remain financially competitive against Democratic opponent James Talarico, whose campaign has significantly outraised him. Republicans in Texas have grown increasingly concerned about the contest, one of the most expensive and closely watched races of the year. The party faces the prospect of losing a statewide election in Texas for the first time in more than three decades. How Musk's $158 million reached the Paxton campaign? Campaign-finance filings show that Musk donated $75 million to the Senate Leadership Fund, the leading super PAC supporting Senate Republicans, on September 9. He contributed another $83 million on September 23. On each occasion, the super PAC transferred an identical amount to Texas PAC the following day. The group had been established by the Senate Leadership Fund to support Paxton's campaign. The money transferred to Texas PAC was not necessarily Musk's own contribution, and super PAC officials have publicly said they were seeking additional donations to fund their pro-Paxton efforts. Nevertheless, without Musk's record-breaking contributions, such a substantial sum would have been unlikely to reach the group supporting Paxton, according to the report. It is unusual for an individual donor to be so closely linked to such a large financial commitment benefiting a single candidate. The New York Times reported earlier in the week on Musk's contributions to the Senate Leadership Fund and the possibility that the money would ultimately support Paxton. The latest filings provide further details about how the transfers occurred. Also Read: US midterms 2026: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez donates $1 million to Abdul El-Sayed’s as Michigan race heats up Musk also donated $10 million to another pro-Paxton group Beyond the $158 million routed through the Senate Leadership Fund, Musk contributed another $10 million to a separate super PAC supporting Paxton. That donation enabled the group to begin airing television advertisements in late August. Musk lives in Austin and has extensive business interests in Texas. Paxton, meanwhile, serves as the state's attorney general, a position that gives his office regulatory responsibilities involving businesses operating in Texas, including Musk's companies. The two men have been political allies in the state. Musk targets Paxton's Democratic rival Despite his substantial financial involvement, Musk has generally shown limited public or private enthusiasm for individual candidates in this year's midterm elections. He has rarely posted on X, his social media platform, about Republican nominees. In recent days, however, he has published several critical posts about Talarico. Talarico has made the political influence of billionaires, including Musk, a central issue on the campaign trail. The dispute highlights the growing role of wealthy donors and outside political groups in high-profile election contests, where super PACs can spend substantial sums independently to support candidates. Texas Senate race draws national attention The Texas Senate contest has emerged as one of the most closely watched races of the election cycle, with both parties recognising its potential implications for control of the chamber. Paxton's financial position has been a concern for Republicans as Talarico has raised substantially more money through his campaign. Musk's contributions offer a significant source of financial support for groups backing the Republican candidate, potentially helping them sustain advertising and other campaign efforts. The scale of the donations also underscores Musk's growing influence in American political fundraising, as wealthy individuals and political action committees direct substantial resources towards pivotal Senate contests. With the race attracting national attention and large financial commitments from both sides, the contest between Paxton and Talarico is expected to remain a major focus as election day approaches.

Elon Musk donated $158 million to a Republican super PAC that transferred the same amount to a group supporting Ken Paxton's Texas Senate bid

US midterms 2026: Ken Paxton may have Elon Musk to thank if he wins the Texas Senate race. Here's why

The Tesla Roadster uses SpaceX cold gas thrusters to release compressed air, avoiding the dangerous fire of chemical rockets. This ensures extreme acceleration and aerial mobility without extreme heat.

While traditional rocket engines use volatile liquid fuels and combustion, the new Tesla Roadster uses SpaceX cold gas thrusters that release highly compressed air for safe, explosive acceleration.

Tesla Roadster's thrusters vs rocket engines: What's the difference?

Tesla revealed its new Roadster sports car equipped with SpaceX cold-gas thrusters. The vehicle can jump over trucks, perform aerial flips, and reach 60 mph in 0.8 seconds. Production begins in 2028.

Tesla revealed its new Roadster sports car equipped with SpaceX cold-gas thrusters. The vehicle can jump over trucks, perform aerial flips, and reach 60 mph in 0.8 seconds. Production begins in 2028.

‘No traffic jams for Tesla owners’: How Elon Musk’s new flying car is different from regular cars?

Tesla's Roadster promises more than electric sports-car performance. From aerospace-inspired styling and a minimalist cabin to SpaceX thrusters designed for aerial manoeuvres, explore the features behind Elon Musk's ambitious vehicle.

Tesla's Roadster promises more than electric sports-car performance. From aerospace-inspired styling and a minimalist cabin to SpaceX thrusters designed for aerial manoeuvres, explore the features behind Elon Musk's ambitious vehicle.

Inside Tesla's Roadster: 10 features of Elon Musk's 'flying car' that push the limits of electric vehicles | In Pics

"Turns out the future does have flying cars," Elon Musk wrote on X on Thursday (Oct 15), sharing a video of Tesla's long-awaited Roadster performing dramatic aerial manoeuvres using thrusters developed with his rocket company SpaceX. The feat of engineering was unveiled at SpaceX’s rocket development facility in McGregor, Texas (near Waco).“A friend of mine, Peter Thiel, once said the future promised us flying cars, but instead we got 140 characters,” Musk, the world's first trillionaire, joked while addressing a crowd of cheering fans at the unveiling event. The "140 characters" bit was a reference to the character limit of social media posts on Twitter before he bought it in 2022. “Well, not anymore,” he stated.An astounding video of the car shows the white electric sports car lifting off the ground, hovering, flipping and manoeuvring above a paved surface. The demonstration also features the vehicle performing high-speed stunts under spotlights, with thick plumes of smoke adding to the spectacle.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Turns out the future does have flying cars https://t.co/6fexPp6SXI&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/2110913107094606330?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 16, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The reveal has reignited interest in Musk's long-promised vision of a car that can "fly". Here's all you need to know about the Tesla Roadster.<h2>0 to 60 in under 1 second: How Tesla's flying Roadster works</h2>Tesla demonstrated the Roadster using a combination of cold-gas thrusters and a fan-based suction system. The thrusters, developed in collaboration with SpaceX, are designed to propel the vehicle into the air and help control its movements.During the event in Texas, the car drove up a ramp, remained upside down briefly and returned to the ground. It was also shown lifting off from a stationary position and clearing a row of parked Tesla vehicles.Musk has described the Roadster as a collaboration between Tesla and SpaceX. According to the company, the car has an acceleration time of 0 to 60 miles per hour in 0.81 seconds.<h2>When will the flying Tesla Roadster launch?</h2>The Roadster has been one of Musk's most anticipated projects since Tesla first unveiled its second-generation version in 2017. Deliveries were originally expected in 2020, but the vehicle has faced repeated delays.Tesla now expects production to begin in 2028. The company has not yet provided a complete set of production and pricing details for the newly revealed vehicle.<h2>Is Tesla's flying car ready for everyday use?</h2>Not yet. The demonstration showcased a specialised vehicle performing controlled stunts, rather than a flying car designed for routine commuting.Notably, the car comes in two variants: a specialised Rocket variant with the ability to lift off the ground and a Thrust version intended for road use. The Rocket version is not yet approved for public roads.Musk has acknowledged uncertainty over whether the vehicle would be legal in every jurisdiction and said it was not necessarily optimised for safety. Speaking at the unveiling event, Musk acknowledged that the Roadster, which Tesla describes as "Beyond The Limits of Physics" on its website, was “not necessarily a safety-optimised car”, but it said it would “be an actual car that’s on the roads”.“I’m not sure it’s necessarily legal in all jurisdictions,” he accepted. “But there will be such a car that someone can own.”

Tesla has unveiled a futuristic version of its Roadster featuring SpaceX-developed thrusters, with Elon Musk describing the vehicle as a glimpse of the flying-car future. A sports car that can lift off the ground and perform aerial manoeuvres? All you need to know about Tesla Roadster.

"Turns out the future does have flying cars," Elon Musk wrote on X on Thursday (Oct 15), sharing a video of Tesla's long-awaited Roadster performing dramatic aerial manoeuvres using thrusters developed with his rocket company SpaceX. The feat of engineering was unveiled at SpaceX’s rocket development facility in McGregor, Texas (near Waco). “A friend of mine, Peter Thiel, once said the future promised us flying cars, but instead we got 140 characters,” Musk, the world's first trillionaire, joked while addressing a crowd of cheering fans at the unveiling event. The "140 characters" bit was a reference to the character limit of social media posts on Twitter before he bought it in 2022. “Well, not anymore,” he stated. An astounding video of the car shows the white electric sports car lifting off the ground, hovering, flipping and manoeuvring above a paved surface. The demonstration also features the vehicle performing high-speed stunts under spotlights, with thick plumes of smoke adding to the spectacle.

Tesla has unveiled a futuristic version of its Roadster featuring SpaceX-developed thrusters, with Elon Musk describing the vehicle as a glimpse of the flying-car future. A sports car that can lift off the ground and perform aerial manoeuvres? All you need to know about Tesla Roadster.

'Turns out the future does have flying cars': Musk's Tesla unveils 'flying' sports car with SpaceX technology | Watch

Russia Has Escalated Its Strikes on Ukraine at a Time When Starlink Services Have Reportedly Been Restricted in the Country. at Least Six People Were Killed in Alleged Russian Drone Attacks. on the Other Hand, Iran Termed Starlink as a Tool of War for Enemies.

Ukraine blinded: Musk deflects blame on Trump, Putin sharpens attack 

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Sunday (Oct 11) slammed SpaceX CEO Elon Musk over Starlink's proposed entry into India's satellite communications market. In a post on X, Dubey said the Parliamentary Committee had understood the challenges faced by the country's security agencies through Starlink, adding that the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Home Affairs and investigative agencies were concerned with the "threats" posed by such developments. In a reply to Elon Musk's tweet, Dubey wrote, "As the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee, our committee has understood the challenges facing the country's security agencies through @elonmusk's Starlink. The Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and our investigation agencies are being affected by the dangerous games of these threats." Referring to the previous government, he wrote, "In 2013-14, the government of Manmohan Singh ji had informed @TRAI about these threats." Dubey further said India was a sovereign and democratic country that would not alter its security policy under pressure. "First, provide connections to the poor in your own country, America, at affordable rates, and then level accusations; India is a healthy democratic, sovereign nation; it does not change its security policy under pressure or social media," he added. “If our policy were driven by money, we would have rolled out the red-carpet welcome for you despite opposition from the security agencies. Don't you provide even more support to political parties from America to Britain?” he further added. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/musk-under-scrutiny-again-us-judge-upholds-twitter-investor-fraud-verdict-1783413122011">Elon Musk under scrutiny again as US judge upholds Twitter investor fraud verdict</a><h2>Indian government's statement</h2>Earlier, the Ministry of Communications unequivocally stated its position on the regulatory framework for satellite communication services. The Ministry said that India's policies in this sphere are “fair and non-discriminatory.” The statement issued by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) and the Ministry of Communications, stated that the "government has put in place a fair and non-discriminatory authorisation framework for all telecommunication services, including satellite communication services. Under this, telecom licences have been granted to three Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite services based on non-geosynchronous satellite orbit based satellite communications, as part of its commitment to enable provision of satellite communication services in India. Under the terms and conditions of license, every such licensee is required to demonstrate compliance with security conditions. This is aimed at ensuring that services provided meet various security requirements to ensure safety of all users and their data. Security assessment as part of this process is currently under way in respect of all the three licensees. As and when this process is completed for a licensed entity, it may proceed to the next step of seeking assignment of spectrum." "At present, all the three entities are at broadly the same regulatory stage. As such, the suggestion that the framework or its application is unfair or discriminatory is baseless and misconceived," the statement added.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-back-in-trump-admin-will-help-pentagon-map-future-of-warfare-autonomous-weapons-1790820548201">Elon Musk back in Trump admin, will help Pentagon map 'future of warfare, autonomous weapons'</a><h2>What Elon Musk said?</h2>In a post on X on Oct 7, Elon Musk accused certain unnamed ‘oligarchs’ of blocking Starlink’s entry into India, alleging that they are trying to protect their “monopolistic chokehold” over the country’s people. Musk made the remarks while responding to a post citing government data that 11,256 listed villages lacked 4G coverage as of May 2026. He has previously said Starlink could help connect rural and underserved parts of India. “Unfortunately, we are being blocked by certain oligarchs to maintain their monopolistic chokehold on the Indian people. You can guess who they are …,” Musk said in the post.&nbsp;Musk has since then targeted the Ambanis and shared several other posts slamming the Indian government's policies. In his latest post on X, Musk said, “The ridiculous arguments by Ambani’s army of Internet shills make no sense. On the one hand, they say Starlink couldn’t possibly compete with the amazing low prices offered by Ambani’s de facto monopoly in India and then, in the same breath, they essentially claim that Starlink would be too strong of a competitor! This is absurd hypocrisy and hyperbole.” He acknowledged that greater competition could reduce the profits of existing players but said it would not necessarily threaten their business. “Obviously, if Starlink is too expensive in India, no one will buy it, so SpaceX will need to make pricing affordable,” Musk added.

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey has criticised Elon Musk over Starlink's proposed entry into India, citing concerns raised by security agencies. His remarks came after Musk accused unnamed business interests of blocking Starlink, while the government rejected claims of discriminatory regulations.

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Sunday (Oct 11) slammed SpaceX CEO Elon Musk over Starlink's proposed entry into India's satellite communications market. In a post on X, Dubey said the Parliamentary Committee had understood the challenges faced by the country's security agencies through Starlink, adding that the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Home Affairs and investigative agencies were concerned with the "threats" posed by such developments. In a reply to Elon Musk's tweet, Dubey wrote, "As the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee, our committee has understood the challenges facing the country's security agencies through @elonmusk's Starlink. The Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and our investigation agencies are being affected by the dangerous games of these threats." Referring to the previous government, he wrote, "In 2013-14, the government of Manmohan Singh ji had informed @TRAI about these threats." Dubey further said India was a sovereign and democratic country that would not alter its security policy under pressure. "First, provide connections to the poor in your own country, America, at affordable rates, and then level accusations; India is a healthy democratic, sovereign nation; it does not change its security policy under pressure or social media," he added. “If our policy were driven by money, we would have rolled out the red-carpet welcome for you despite opposition from the security agencies. Don't you provide even more support to political parties from America to Britain?” he further added. Also Read: Elon Musk under scrutiny again as US judge upholds Twitter investor fraud verdict Indian government's statement Earlier, the Ministry of Communications unequivocally stated its position on the regulatory framework for satellite communication services. The Ministry said that India's policies in this sphere are “fair and non-discriminatory.” The statement issued by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) and the Ministry of Communications, stated that the "government has put in place a fair and non-discriminatory authorisation framework for all telecommunication services, including satellite communication services. Under this, telecom licences have been granted to three Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite services based on non-geosynchronous satellite orbit based satellite communications, as part of its commitment to enable provision of satellite communication services in India. Under the terms and conditions of license, every such licensee is required to demonstrate compliance with security conditions. This is aimed at ensuring that services provided meet various security requirements to ensure safety of all users and their data. Security assessment as part of this process is currently under way in respect of all the three licensees. As and when this process is completed for a licensed entity, it may proceed to the next step of seeking assignment of spectrum." "At present, all the three entities are at broadly the same regulatory stage. As such, the suggestion that the framework or its application is unfair or discriminatory is baseless and misconceived," the statement added. Also Read: Elon Musk back in Trump admin, will help Pentagon map 'future of warfare, autonomous weapons' What Elon Musk said? In a post on X on Oct 7, Elon Musk accused certain unnamed ‘oligarchs’ of blocking Starlink’s entry into India, alleging that they are trying to protect their “monopolistic chokehold” over the country’s people. Musk made the remarks while responding to a post citing government data that 11,256 listed villages lacked 4G coverage as of May 2026. He has previously said Starlink could help connect rural and underserved parts of India. “Unfortunately, we are being blocked by certain oligarchs to maintain their monopolistic chokehold on the Indian people. You can guess who they are …,” Musk said in the post. Musk has since then targeted the Ambanis and shared several other posts slamming the Indian government's policies. In his latest post on X, Musk said, “The ridiculous arguments by Ambani’s army of Internet shills make no sense. On the one hand, they say Starlink couldn’t possibly compete with the amazing low prices offered by Ambani’s de facto monopoly in India and then, in the same breath, they essentially claim that Starlink would be too strong of a competitor! This is absurd hypocrisy and hyperbole.” He acknowledged that greater competition could reduce the profits of existing players but said it would not necessarily threaten their business. “Obviously, if Starlink is too expensive in India, no one will buy it, so SpaceX will need to make pricing affordable,” Musk added.

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey has criticised Elon Musk over Starlink's proposed entry into India, citing concerns raised by security agencies. His remarks came after Musk accused unnamed business interests of blocking Starlink, while the government rejected claims of discriminatory regulations.

'India won't change security policy under pressure': India's Parliamentary IT Panel chief slams Elon Musk over Starlink row

Days ago, tech billionaire Elon Musk accused certain business owners, without naming them, of stopping Starlink's entry into India. In a series of posts, he alleged that 'certain oligarchs' were attempting to block the entry of the satellite internet provider into India despite the company's efforts to secure regulatory approvals. A day later, Musk posted again, directly targeting Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani and accusing him of maintaining a monopoly in the country’s internet market. He sarcastically addressed him as 'Prime Minister Ambani' and called 'real boss of India', and questioned whether Ambani would let Starlink compete in the Indian market. The only question is: why is Starlink facing problems getting approval from the government to enter the Indian market?<h3>Why is Elon Musk’s Starlink struggling?</h3>To secure the key licenses for Starlink in India, Musk has been striving hard since 2021. But for final security clearances and spectrum allocation, the company still needs the government's approval to start commercial services, which has moved in staggered stages. To secure the GMPCS licence, the company applied in 2024, but the approval came after two years, in 2026. Others who have received GMPCS licences include Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio Satellite Communications Ltd. Jeff Bezos-owned Amazon Leo is also in contention for a licence. However, after clearing the hurdle, the company still needs the approval of law enforcement, satellite spectrum allocation, and ground infrastructure along with earth stations, ahead of becoming fully operational commercially. India's space regulator has also rejected the company's Gen 2 constellation application over features and radio frequencies, as it did not fulfil India's requirements, forcing the company to reapply. In terms of ongoing friction, India has refuted Musk's allegations, underscoring that its satellite communications rules are fair and non-discriminatory. Even the Ministry of Communications stated that three GMPCS licences have been granted under NGSO-based satellite communications, with each licensee required to meet security compliance conditions before proceeding further. Security assessments for all three entities are currently underway, and none has yet moved to the spectrum assignment stage. The ministry clarified that all three licensees remain at broadly the same regulatory stage, dismissing claims of unfairness or discrimination in the framework's application as baseless and misconceived. Meanwhile, SpaceX executive Lauren Dreyer, Starlink's business operations, said that the company spent years working with Indian regulators and had built security controls into its network to meet the country's requirements. She claimed the company developed India-specific security controls and built 20 gateway sites in India after investing in building the infrastructure. Dreyer clarified that Starlink has built its operational facilities specifically for India, keeping the country's security requirements and otherregulations on priority while keeping Indian user data within India.&nbsp;On this, Pranav Koomar, Founder of PlusCash, also told WION, "Starlink has managed to clear some key regulatory barriers in India in terms of licensing, approval in the space sector, tie-ups with Jio and Airtel, and ground infrastructure creation. Nevertheless, getting approvals does not necessarily mean that there will be success from a commercial perspective. The real problem is the economics of the broadband market in India. Starlink's business model implies huge investment in the satellite network and ground infrastructure, which implies a higher cost per subscriber. The model is quite suitable for markets with high prices for broadband and a lack of alternatives to satellite broadband.On the contrary, India has one of the cheapest broadband markets and data prices in the world, with companies like Jio and Airtel enjoying huge economies of scale and low pricing for consumers. Matching those prices while sustaining margins is going to be hard for a satellite service provider. Thus, the issue here is not about getting the approvals and licenses for Starlink. What really matters is whether the company can create unit economics in the highly competitive broadband market."&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/scam-smuggling-and-wars-why-elon-musk-s-starlink-is-a-help-from-heaven-for-criminals-1791630930507">'Scam, smuggling and wars': Why Elon Musk's Starlink is a 'help from heaven' for criminals</a><h3>What's the real problem?</h3>Security has been a major concern related to Starlink's entry into India. In 2024, Indian officials claimed that they had recovered Starlink equipment during a drug-smuggling probe in the remote Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It was also found in an army operation in the northeastern state of Manipur.&nbsp;Its ability to bypass land-based infrastructure has made it a powerful geopolitical tool in conflicts, anti-regime protests, and civil wars. In 2022, when Russia hit the communication network of Ukraine, its internet was completely cut off. Then Ukraine turned to Starlink for internet connectivity. But when Ukraine attempted to strike a Russian ship near Crimea, Musk cut off the internet, and the attack failed. This shows the power of a businessman who weiled at such an extent that it could control things. So it can become a threat to national security and a vulnerability during war. During mass anti-government protests, after the Mahsa Amini protests in 2022 and subsequent demonstrations triggered by a currency collapse, the Iranian government deployed a near-total internet blackout to stop protesters from coordinating or uploading footage. Later, thousands of Starlink terminals were smuggled across the border via underground networks. Then Musk activated the satellite beams over Iran and even pushed a specialised firmware update to help users bypass state signal-jamming equipment. This allowed dissidents to broadcast state crackdowns directly to the outside world, significantly undermining the regime's control over information flow. A similar incident was also witnessed in the Sudanese civil war; Starlink became an accidental lifeline for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a powerful paramilitary group fighting against the internationally recognised Sudanese Armed Forces. In Venezuela, the authoritarian government under Nicolás Maduro has routinely restricted internet access and censored opposition media during periods of high political tension and contested elections. Then activists and opposition leaders have used smuggled Starlink terminals to communicate securely. By bypassing the state-owned telecom provider (CANTV), opposition networks maintained coordination despite government mandates to silence them, altering how political resistance operates in the country. So, with the entry of this tech, states can no longer easily use the "internet kill switch" to suppress domestic unrest. This has caused significant security anxiety globally. The next major issue is pricing, as the company has yet to reveal final prices for India, and questions have remained about affordability, particularly in rural areas. In the US, Starlink's plans start at $55 a month; however, prices and equipment costs vary by plan and location. Currently, Starlink has been licensed in more than 165 countries.

The Ministry of Communications stated that three GMPCS licences have been granted under NGSO-based satellite communications, with each licensee required to meet security compliance conditions before proceeding further. 

Days ago, tech billionaire Elon Musk accused certain business owners, without naming them, of stopping Starlink's entry into India. In a series of posts, he alleged that 'certain oligarchs' were attempting to block the entry of the satellite internet provider into India despite the company's efforts to secure regulatory approvals. A day later, Musk posted again, directly targeting Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani and accusing him of maintaining a monopoly in the country’s internet market. He sarcastically addressed him as 'Prime Minister Ambani' and called 'real boss of India', and questioned whether Ambani would let Starlink compete in the Indian market. The only question is: why is Starlink facing problems getting approval from the government to enter the Indian market? Why is Elon Musk’s Starlink struggling? To secure the key licenses for Starlink in India, Musk has been striving hard since 2021. But for final security clearances and spectrum allocation, the company still needs the government's approval to start commercial services, which has moved in staggered stages. To secure the GMPCS licence, the company applied in 2024, but the approval came after two years, in 2026. Others who have received GMPCS licences include Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio Satellite Communications Ltd. Jeff Bezos-owned Amazon Leo is also in contention for a licence. However, after clearing the hurdle, the company still needs the approval of law enforcement, satellite spectrum allocation, and ground infrastructure along with earth stations, ahead of becoming fully operational commercially. India's space regulator has also rejected the company's Gen 2 constellation application over features and radio frequencies, as it did not fulfil India's requirements, forcing the company to reapply. In terms of ongoing friction, India has refuted Musk's allegations, underscoring that its satellite communications rules are fair and non-discriminatory. Even the Ministry of Communications stated that three GMPCS licences have been granted under NGSO-based satellite communications, with each licensee required to meet security compliance conditions before proceeding further. Security assessments for all three entities are currently underway, and none has yet moved to the spectrum assignment stage. The ministry clarified that all three licensees remain at broadly the same regulatory stage, dismissing claims of unfairness or discrimination in the framework's application as baseless and misconceived. Meanwhile, SpaceX executive Lauren Dreyer, Starlink's business operations, said that the company spent years working with Indian regulators and had built security controls into its network to meet the country's requirements. She claimed the company developed India-specific security controls and built 20 gateway sites in India after investing in building the infrastructure. Dreyer clarified that Starlink has built its operational facilities specifically for India, keeping the country's security requirements and otherregulations on priority while keeping Indian user data within India. On this, Pranav Koomar, Founder of PlusCash, also told WION, "Starlink has managed to clear some key regulatory barriers in India in terms of licensing, approval in the space sector, tie-ups with Jio and Airtel, and ground infrastructure creation. Nevertheless, getting approvals does not necessarily mean that there will be success from a commercial perspective. The real problem is the economics of the broadband market in India. Starlink's business model implies huge investment in the satellite network and ground infrastructure, which implies a higher cost per subscriber. The model is quite suitable for markets with high prices for broadband and a lack of alternatives to satellite broadband. On the contrary, India has one of the cheapest broadband markets and data prices in the world, with companies like Jio and Airtel enjoying huge economies of scale and low pricing for consumers. Matching those prices while sustaining margins is going to be hard for a satellite service provider. Thus, the issue here is not about getting the approvals and licenses for Starlink. What really matters is whether the company can create unit economics in the highly competitive broadband market." Also read: 'Scam, smuggling and wars': Why Elon Musk's Starlink is a 'help from heaven' for criminals What's the real problem? Security has been a major concern related to Starlink's entry into India. In 2024, Indian officials claimed that they had recovered Starlink equipment during a drug-smuggling probe in the remote Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It was also found in an army operation in the northeastern state of Manipur. Its ability to bypass land-based infrastructure has made it a powerful geopolitical tool in conflicts, anti-regime protests, and civil wars. In 2022, when Russia hit the communication network of Ukraine, its internet was completely cut off. Then Ukraine turned to Starlink for internet connectivity. But when Ukraine attempted to strike a Russian ship near Crimea, Musk cut off the internet, and the attack failed. This shows the power of a businessman who weiled at such an extent that it could control things. So it can become a threat to national security and a vulnerability during war. During mass anti-government protests, after the Mahsa Amini protests in 2022 and subsequent demonstrations triggered by a currency collapse, the Iranian government deployed a near-total internet blackout to stop protesters from coordinating or uploading footage. Later, thousands of Starlink terminals were smuggled across the border via underground networks. Then Musk activated the satellite beams over Iran and even pushed a specialised firmware update to help users bypass state signal-jamming equipment. This allowed dissidents to broadcast state crackdowns directly to the outside world, significantly undermining the regime's control over information flow. A similar incident was also witnessed in the Sudanese civil war; Starlink became an accidental lifeline for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a powerful paramilitary group fighting against the internationally recognised Sudanese Armed Forces. In Venezuela, the authoritarian government under Nicolás Maduro has routinely restricted internet access and censored opposition media during periods of high political tension and contested elections. Then activists and opposition leaders have used smuggled Starlink terminals to communicate securely. By bypassing the state-owned telecom provider (CANTV), opposition networks maintained coordination despite government mandates to silence them, altering how political resistance operates in the country. So, with the entry of this tech, states can no longer easily use the "internet kill switch" to suppress domestic unrest. This has caused significant security anxiety globally. The next major issue is pricing, as the company has yet to reveal final prices for India, and questions have remained about affordability, particularly in rural areas. In the US, Starlink's plans start at $55 a month; however, prices and equipment costs vary by plan and location. Currently, Starlink has been licensed in more than 165 countries.

The Ministry of Communications stated that three GMPCS licences have been granted under NGSO-based satellite communications, with each licensee required to meet security compliance conditions before proceeding further.&nbsp;

Four years, 3 licenses, zero launch: Why is Elon Musk’s Starlink still struggling to crack Indian market? EXPLAINED

Elon Musk wants Indians to see Mukesh Ambani as the villain of the Starlink story: a tycoon whose political money buys him the power to keep competitors out. On 10 October, to make the point, Musk shared reports about Reliance-linked donations to the BJP, and mockingly addressed Ambani as 'Prime Minister Ambani'.&nbsp;What Musk Shared&nbsp;Musk posted two reports on X. One was a 2022 Al Jazeera investigation into a Reliance-funded firm's social-media work for BJP campaigns. The other was a 2024 Indian Express article on a Reliance-linked company, Qwik Supply Chain, donating Rs 385 crore to the BJP, and Rs 25 crore to the Shiv Sena, through electoral bonds.&nbsp;The intent was clear: here is the oligarch, here is the money, here is why Starlink is blocked.&nbsp;Reuters reported that more than half of the firm is held by three Reliance Group companies, though Reliance says Qwik Supply is not a subsidiary of any Reliance entity. And the electoral-bond scheme itself was later struck down by the Supreme Court as unconstitutional, precisely because it let corporations funnel money to parties in secret.&nbsp;But Look Who Is Raising It&nbsp;The problem is not the fact. It is the messenger.&nbsp;The man presenting a Rs 385 crore donation as proof of a corrupt moneyed nexus is himself the single largest private political spender in modern democratic history. In the 2024 US election, Musk gave roughly $239 million, about Rs 2,000 crore, to America PAC, the super PAC he created to elect Donald Trump, and spent more than $290 million, over Rs 2,400 crore, in total, as per reports.&nbsp;In other words, the donation Musk is holding up as scandalous is roughly one-fifth of what he personally spent to install a president. By the standard he is applying to Ambani, Elon Musk is not the whistleblower. He is the exhibit.&nbsp;The Comparison, Done Honestly&nbsp;A fair piece has to concede the systems are not identical, and they are not.&nbsp;Electoral bonds were anonymous corporate donations to a ruling party that Reliance has interests before; US super-PAC spending is publicly disclosed and legal, and is formally independent of the candidate. Those are real differences, and anyone claiming the two are exactly the same is overreaching.&nbsp;But the differences cut against Musk as much as for him. His spending was not a quiet corporate cheque, it was a personal, record-shattering campaign to put one man in power, topped off with a $1-million-a-day voter giveaway that landed in court. He then took a role inside that government, over agencies that regulate his own companies. If Ambani's Rs 385 crore proves a businessman buying influence, Musk's Rs 2,000 crore and a seat in the administration prove it many times over.&nbsp;The Real Point&nbsp;An honest version of his argument would be: corporate political funding is corrosive everywhere, mine included. That is not the argument he is making. He is making the argument that one specific tycoon's donations are a crime against the Indian people, from behind the largest political chequebook any private individual has ever opened.&nbsp;What To Watch&nbsp;Whether Musk ever applies to his own spending the standard he applies to Ambani's. Whether the electoral-bond revelations he amplified get debated on their own merits, separate from his licence fight. And whether Indians notice that the man warning them about the power of rich men's money is the richest man of all, writing the biggest cheques of all.

To attack Ambani, Musk shared reports of a Reliance-linked firm's Rs 385 crore to the BJP. But Musk himself spent roughly Rs 2,000 crore to elect Trump — five times more. The man flagging one donation is the biggest political spender of all.

Elon Musk wants Indians to see Mukesh Ambani as the villain of the Starlink story: a tycoon whose political money buys him the power to keep competitors out. On 10 October, to make the point, Musk shared reports about Reliance-linked donations to the BJP, and mockingly addressed Ambani as 'Prime Minister Ambani'. What Musk Shared Musk posted two reports on X. One was a 2022 Al Jazeera investigation into a Reliance-funded firm's social-media work for BJP campaigns. The other was a 2024 Indian Express article on a Reliance-linked company, Qwik Supply Chain, donating Rs 385 crore to the BJP, and Rs 25 crore to the Shiv Sena, through electoral bonds. The intent was clear: here is the oligarch, here is the money, here is why Starlink is blocked. Reuters reported that more than half of the firm is held by three Reliance Group companies, though Reliance says Qwik Supply is not a subsidiary of any Reliance entity. And the electoral-bond scheme itself was later struck down by the Supreme Court as unconstitutional, precisely because it let corporations funnel money to parties in secret. But Look Who Is Raising It The problem is not the fact. It is the messenger. The man presenting a Rs 385 crore donation as proof of a corrupt moneyed nexus is himself the single largest private political spender in modern democratic history. In the 2024 US election, Musk gave roughly $239 million, about Rs 2,000 crore, to America PAC, the super PAC he created to elect Donald Trump, and spent more than $290 million, over Rs 2,400 crore, in total, as per reports. In other words, the donation Musk is holding up as scandalous is roughly one-fifth of what he personally spent to install a president. By the standard he is applying to Ambani, Elon Musk is not the whistleblower. He is the exhibit. The Comparison, Done Honestly A fair piece has to concede the systems are not identical, and they are not. Electoral bonds were anonymous corporate donations to a ruling party that Reliance has interests before; US super-PAC spending is publicly disclosed and legal, and is formally independent of the candidate. Those are real differences, and anyone claiming the two are exactly the same is overreaching. But the differences cut against Musk as much as for him. His spending was not a quiet corporate cheque, it was a personal, record-shattering campaign to put one man in power, topped off with a $1-million-a-day voter giveaway that landed in court. He then took a role inside that government, over agencies that regulate his own companies. If Ambani's Rs 385 crore proves a businessman buying influence, Musk's Rs 2,000 crore and a seat in the administration prove it many times over. The Real Point An honest version of his argument would be: corporate political funding is corrosive everywhere, mine included. That is not the argument he is making. He is making the argument that one specific tycoon's donations are a crime against the Indian people, from behind the largest political chequebook any private individual has ever opened. What To Watch Whether Musk ever applies to his own spending the standard he applies to Ambani's. Whether the electoral-bond revelations he amplified get debated on their own merits, separate from his licence fight. And whether Indians notice that the man warning them about the power of rich men's money is the richest man of all, writing the biggest cheques of all.

To prove his claim that ‘oligarchs’ are blocking Starlink, Elon Musk shared reports alleging a Reliance-linked firm donated Rs 385 crore to the BJP. There is a problem with using that as evidence of a corrupt nexus: Musk himself spent roughly Rs 2,000 crore to elect Donald Trump. The man pointing at one donation is the biggest private political spender of them all.

'Spent Rs 2,000 cr to elect Trump': Elon Musk bought US President's loyalty by writing the biggest political cheque in human history

Tech billionaire Elon Musk continued his attack on Indian industrialist Mukesh Ambani on Saturday with a post on X. He shared screenshots of media reports that alleged a Reliance-funded organisation helped boost BJP campaigns on social media. The post also claimed that a Reliance-linked company made large political donations to the BJP. Elon Musk's recent post on social media platform X shows an Al Jazeera report from 2022 headlined "How a Reliance-funded firm boosts BJP's campaigns on Facebook". The same post also shows an archived Indian Express report from 2024 on Qwik Supply, claiming that the Reliance-linked firm donated Rs 385 crore to the BJP and Rs 25 crore to the Shiv Sena through electoral bonds.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">https://t.co/DJYynAyO0W&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/2108717598196244828?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The latest post follows a wave of sharp criticism from Musk directed at Mukesh Ambani over a continuous delay in the rollout of Starlink satellite broadband services in India. Reliance has chosen not to respond publicly to Musk’s allegations, while the government has continued to insist that India’s authorisation framework for telecom and satellite services is “fair and non-discriminatory,” rejecting any suggestion that it is being applied selectively as “baseless and misconceived.”&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/flydubai-co-pilot-developed-extremist-views-while-studying-in-australia-uae-prosecutors-1791613443387">Flydubai co-pilot developed extremist views while studying in Australia: UAE prosecutors</a><h3>Indian govt reacts</h3>The exchange unfolded against the backdrop of the India Mobile Congress this week, where, even as Musk’s pointed jabs and confrontations played out on X alongside the country’s flagship telecom showcase, Reliance Jio Infocomm Chairman Akash Ambani steered clear of the controversy. He said the company remained focused on delivering value to Indian consumers rather than engaging in the debate over satellite communication services. Hours before this latest post, Musk had referred to Mukesh Ambani on X as “Prime Minister Ambani,” accusing him of shielding a monopoly, and questioned whether Ambani would ever allow Starlink to compete on equal footing in India. Responding on Friday, Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia pushed back, stating that India does not tolerate monopolies in any sector. He pointed out that despite the attention surrounding one company, three players currently hold satcom licences and are free to begin operations once they clear the required security checks and milestones.

The latest post follows a wave of sharp criticism from Musk directed at Mukesh Ambani over a continuous delay in the rollout of Starlink satellite broadband services in India. 

Tech billionaire Elon Musk continued his attack on Indian industrialist Mukesh Ambani on Saturday with a post on X. He shared screenshots of media reports that alleged a Reliance-funded organisation helped boost BJP campaigns on social media. The post also claimed that a Reliance-linked company made large political donations to the BJP. Elon Musk's recent post on social media platform X shows an Al Jazeera report from 2022 headlined "How a Reliance-funded firm boosts BJP's campaigns on Facebook". The same post also shows an archived Indian Express report from 2024 on Qwik Supply, claiming that the Reliance-linked firm donated Rs 385 crore to the BJP and Rs 25 crore to the Shiv Sena through electoral bonds.

The latest post follows a wave of sharp criticism from Musk directed at Mukesh Ambani over a continuous delay in the rollout of Starlink satellite broadband services in India.&nbsp;

Elon Musk escalates attack on Ambani; shares media reports alleging Reliance funding BJP campaigns, donations

Tech billionaire Elon Musk has continued his attack over Starlink’s delayed entry into India for the third consecutive day, taking a fresh swipe at Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani and accusing him of seeking to maintain a monopoly in the country’s internet market.&nbsp;In a post on X, the SpaceX and Tesla CEO addressed Ambani as “Prime Minister Ambani” and sarcastically apologised for not realising that he was the “real boss of India”. Musk then asked whether Ambani would let Starlink compete in the Indian market.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Dear Prime Minister Ambani,

Please accept my humble apologies for not realizing that you are the real boss of India. 

Naturally, you would prefer to maintain your monopolistic exploitation of the great people of India, but would you nonetheless consider allowing Starlink to compete? 

There are many areas of India, as there are in all countries, with no Internet access, which denies children the opportunity for education and for small businesses the opportunity to sell their goods to a global market. Starlink would change their lives for the better. 

Thank you 🙏&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/2108604227643719745?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 9, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;“Please accept my humble apologies for not realising that you are the real boss of India,” Musk wrote.&nbsp;“Naturally, you would prefer to maintain your monopolistic exploitation of the great people of India, but would you nonetheless consider allowing Starlink to compete?” he added.&nbsp;Musk argued that Starlink could improve internet access in areas where connectivity remains limited. He said the satellite internet service could create educational opportunities for children and help small businesses reach international markets.&nbsp;“There are many areas of India, as there are in all countries, with no Internet access, which denies children the opportunity for education and for small businesses the opportunity to sell their goods to a global market. Starlink would change their lives for the better,” he wrote.<h3>Musk highlights Starlink's role in disaster management</h3>In a second post on X, Musk highlighted Starlink’s role in providing communication services during natural disasters, arguing that the satellite-based system could help save lives when conventional communication networks fail.&nbsp;“Also, Starlink has proven to be essential for saving lives during natural disasters throughout the world, when all other communications systems have failed, so you would also be helping save men, women and children throughout India,” Musk said.<h2>How the row began&nbsp;</h2>The row began when Musk, in a series of posts on X, alleged that "certain oligarchs" were blocking Starlink's entry into India despite the company's efforts to secure regulatory approvals.&nbsp;In his post on Thursday, Musk questioned why Starlink was still waiting to begin commercial operations in India despite being licensed in more than 165 countries.&nbsp;"Starlink is licenced in over 165 countries and has spent five years complying with every single law and requirement of the government of India, so why still no license? Is Ambani the real boss of India?" Musk wrote on X.&nbsp;He made the post while sharing a claim that the Indian government was more interested in protecting "crony capitalists" than the interests of citizens.&nbsp;Musk had made a similar allegation on Wednesday night, writing, “Unfortunately, we are being blocked by certain oligarchs to maintain their monopolistic chokehold on the Indian people. You can guess who they are …,”<h2>Grok weighs in on Starlink row</h2>In a surprise development earlier in the day, a user on X asked Grok, "Hey @grok List the disadvantages of allowing Starlink in India...." Grok, the AI assistant developed by xAI, a company founded by Elon Musk, has highlighted several concerns surrounding Starlink's entry into India. Its response, which came in four parts, covered national security, data sovereignty, affordability and the potential impact on the domestic telecom sector.&nbsp;On national security, Grok said a foreign-controlled network could limit India's ability to suspend services in sensitive border areas or ensure connectivity during crises. It also flagged past reports of terminals being used by militants or smugglers, raising concerns about potential misuse.&nbsp;Addressing data sovereignty, Grok warned that Starlink's laser links could allow traffic to travel outside Indian gateways, making monitoring and lawful interception more complicated.&nbsp;It also raised concerns about affordability, stating that Starlink's hardware and monthly subscription costs could be significantly higher than terrestrial internet services offered by providers such as Jio and Airtel, potentially limiting access in rural areas.&nbsp;On the potential impact on India's telecom sector, Grok said Starlink could disrupt domestic operators and increase dependence on a single US-based provider instead of encouraging reliance on local alternatives.

Elon Musk took another swipe at Mukesh Ambani over Starlink’s delayed entry into India, accusing him of seeking to maintain a monopoly while highlighting the satellite internet service’s potential to improve connectivity and save lives during natural disasters.

Tech billionaire Elon Musk has continued his attack over Starlink’s delayed entry into India for the third consecutive day, taking a fresh swipe at Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani and accusing him of seeking to maintain a monopoly in the country’s internet market. In a post on X, the SpaceX and Tesla CEO addressed Ambani as “Prime Minister Ambani” and sarcastically apologised for not realising that he was the “real boss of India”. Musk then asked whether Ambani would let Starlink compete in the Indian market.

Elon Musk took another swipe at Mukesh Ambani over Starlink’s delayed entry into India, accusing him of seeking to maintain a monopoly while highlighting the satellite internet service’s potential to improve connectivity and save lives during natural disasters.

‘Real boss of India’: Elon Musk escalates attack over Starlink’s India entry

Elon Musk has accused “certain oligarchs” of blocking Starlink’s launch in India to protect what he called a “monopolistic chokehold” on the Indian market. India’s Ministry of Communications rejected the allegation as “baseless and misconceived,” saying three entities are at broadly the same regulatory stage and undergoing security assessments.


India defends Starlink rules, rejects Musk's 'Oligarch' claim

Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Friday (Oct 09) said India would not allow a monopoly in commercial satellite communications, clarifying that three operators, including Elon Musk’s Starlink, are moving through the regulatory process for launching services in the country. Scindia’s remarks came after Musk, the SpaceX and Starlink chief, accused unnamed "oligarchs" of trying to preserve market dominance, maintain "their monopolistic chokehold" by preventing Starlink from entering India despite five years of efforts to comply with Indian requirements.“India does not allow a monopoly in any sector,” Scindia said, adding that licences had been granted to Reliance Jio, OneWeb and Starlink. He also named Amazon as another company interested in obtaining a licence, saying it would have to follow the prescribed process. “Today there are three licences that are out there. There is a lot of conversation about a particular party. But there are three parties that have got licences,” the minister said.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/never-ending-flow-of-cheap-labour-jd-vance-hits-back-at-indian-origin-congresswoman-over-us-green-card-curbs-for-major-tech-companies-1791516363899">‘Never-ending flow of cheap labour’: JD Vance hits back at Indian-origin Congresswoman over US green card curbs for major tech companies</a><h2>Pricing framework nearing final decision</h2>Scindia said the government was close to taking a final decision on the pricing framework for satellite communication services. The process involves decisions on spectrum allocation, the pricing regime, and security requirements that operators must fulfil before launching commercial operations.The decision to assign spectrum administratively rather than auction it has already been taken, he said. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) have been discussing the pricing framework, with a final decision expected after those consultations.Scindia said each operator would have to independently meet the prescribed security requirements and milestones before moving ahead. “The third has to do with security requirements and requisites being followed,” he said, adding that commercial operations could begin only after each company had completed the required compliance process.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/deeply-offensive-india-hits-back-at-us-vice-president-jd-vance-for-indentured-labour-remark-1791529828211">'Deeply offensive': India hits back at US Vice-President JD Vance for 'indentured labour' remark</a><h2>Government rejects allegations of unfair treatment</h2>The minister’s remarks follow Musk’s claims that Starlink was being held back by vested interests in India. The Ministry of Communications had earlier rejected allegations of unfair treatment, saying all three licensed operators were at broadly the same stage of the regulatory process.The ministry said security assessments were under way for all three companies. Once they complete the required process, the operators can move to the next step of seeking spectrum assignment.&nbsp;

India has rejected claims of a monopoly in satellite communications, with Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia saying Reliance Jio, OneWeb and Starlink are in the regulatory pipeline. Commercial launches will depend on the final pricing framework and security clearances.

Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Friday (Oct 09) said India would not allow a monopoly in commercial satellite communications, clarifying that three operators, including Elon Musk’s Starlink, are moving through the regulatory process for launching services in the country. Scindia’s remarks came after Musk, the SpaceX and Starlink chief, accused unnamed "oligarchs" of trying to preserve market dominance, maintain "their monopolistic chokehold" by preventing Starlink from entering India despite five years of efforts to comply with Indian requirements. “India does not allow a monopoly in any sector,” Scindia said, adding that licences had been granted to Reliance Jio, OneWeb and Starlink. He also named Amazon as another company interested in obtaining a licence, saying it would have to follow the prescribed process. “Today there are three licences that are out there. There is a lot of conversation about a particular party. But there are three parties that have got licences,” the minister said. Also read | ‘Never-ending flow of cheap labour’: JD Vance hits back at Indian-origin Congresswoman over US green card curbs for major tech companies Pricing framework nearing final decision Scindia said the government was close to taking a final decision on the pricing framework for satellite communication services. The process involves decisions on spectrum allocation, the pricing regime, and security requirements that operators must fulfil before launching commercial operations. The decision to assign spectrum administratively rather than auction it has already been taken, he said. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) have been discussing the pricing framework, with a final decision expected after those consultations. Scindia said each operator would have to independently meet the prescribed security requirements and milestones before moving ahead. “The third has to do with security requirements and requisites being followed,” he said, adding that commercial operations could begin only after each company had completed the required compliance process. Also read | 'Deeply offensive': India hits back at US Vice-President JD Vance for 'indentured labour' remark Government rejects allegations of unfair treatment The minister’s remarks follow Musk’s claims that Starlink was being held back by vested interests in India. The Ministry of Communications had earlier rejected allegations of unfair treatment, saying all three licensed operators were at broadly the same stage of the regulatory process. The ministry said security assessments were under way for all three companies. Once they complete the required process, the operators can move to the next step of seeking spectrum assignment.

India has rejected claims of a monopoly in satellite communications, with Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia saying Reliance Jio, OneWeb and Starlink are in the regulatory pipeline. Commercial launches will depend on the final pricing framework and security clearances.

Starlink row: India rejects Musk’s ‘monopoly’ accusation, reveals Amazon also in satellite internet race

Some Indian X users are cancelling their subscriptions to the social media platform after Elon Musk's remarks questioning whether Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani is the “real boss of India”. Several users have posted screenshots of their subscription cancellations on X, tagging Musk as the row over Starlink's entry into India escalates.The online backlash follows a series of posts by the billionaire entrepreneur accusing unnamed business interests of obstructing his satellite internet company. Musk has questioned why Starlink has yet to receive final approval to begin commercial operations in India, despite being licensed in more than 165 countries.The controversy has also drawn in Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, who responded to Musk's remarks with a pointed reference to "the other guy", purportedly another Indian industrialist.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-is-dogedesigner-all-we-know-about-the-x-account-that-sparked-india-musk-starlink-oligarchs-controversy-1791440139278">Who is DogeDesigner? All we know about the X account that sparked India-Musk-Starlink ‘oligarchs’ controversy</a><h2>‘Welcome to India, Elon’: Rahul Gandhi responds to Musk</h2>In a post on X, Musk had asked whether Ambani was the “real boss of India” while criticising the regulatory hurdles facing Starlink. He shared the post amid claims that the government was more concerned with protecting the interests of powerful business groups than those of ordinary citizens.“Starlink is licenced in over 165 countries and has spent five years complying with every single law and requirement of the government of India, so why still no license? Is Ambani the real boss of India?” Musk wrote on X.Earlier, Musk had accused unnamed “oligarchs” of trying to preserve their market dominance by preventing Starlink from entering India. “Unfortunately, we are being blocked by certain oligarchs in order to maintain their monopolistic chokehold on the Indian people. You can guess who they are. This is a crime against the people of India!” he wrote.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Thank you, Rahul. 

This is indeed troubling.&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/2108221292788981881?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Gandhi responded: “Welcome to India, Elon. Wait till you discover the other guy”. Notably, Gandhi did not disclose who he was referring to, but it is believed to have been a dig at industrialist Gautam Adani. Gandhi and the Congress have repeatedly accused Adani of maintaining close ties with the BJP-led government and receiving favourable treatment, allegations that have been central to the party's political criticism.Musk replied to Gandhi within an hour, writing: “Thank you, Rahul. This is indeed troubling.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Welcome to India, Elon. 

Wait till you discover the other guy.&mdash; Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) <a href="https://x.com/RahulGandhi/status/2108206994356355342?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Why is Musk criticising India's Starlink approval process?</h2>Musk's remarks centre on the regulatory clearances required before Starlink can offer commercial satellite internet services in India.The government has authorised three companies in the satellite communications space: SpaceX's Starlink, Reliance Jio's satellite venture Jio Satcom and Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb. Notably, the companies cannot begin commercial services until they complete the required security assessments and obtain spectrum-related approvals.However, Musk alleged that the delay in Starlink's launch in India stems from “being blocked by certain oligarchs in order to maintain their monopolistic chokehold”.<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn3.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2026/20261009/image-1791514766695.png"></figure>The India Ministry of Communications has rejected allegations that India's framework was discriminatory, saying the process was fair and applied equally to the companies involved. “The suggestion that the framework or its application is unfair or discriminatory is baseless and misconceived,” the ministry said in a statement, without naming Musk or Starlink.

<h2>Indian users turn to subscription cancellations</h2>Musk's remarks have prompted some Indian users to publicly announce that they are cancelling their X subscriptions. Screenshots showing subscription cancellations have been shared on the platform, with users tagging Musk.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">It’s now publicly visible that Elon Musk has been speaking against the Indian government. Because of this, I have decided to cancel my X subscription. I don’t feel comfortable paying money to someone whose public stance I strongly disagree with when it concerns my country. 🇮🇳 https://t.co/wtNpNqb8oC&mdash; Abhijeet Agrawal (@Real_AbhijeetAg) <a href="https://x.com/Real_AbhijeetAg/status/2108241099504709859?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">@elonmusk it's done bro. https://t.co/MUjC6Dau1r&mdash; Abhijeet Agrawal (@Real_AbhijeetAg) <a href="https://x.com/Real_AbhijeetAg/status/2108244199330263362?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Some Indian X users are posting subscription cancellation screenshots and tagging Elon Musk after his remarks questioning whether Mukesh Ambani is the “real boss of India”. The backlash comes amid Musk's escalating row with the Indian government over Starlink's entry into the country.

Some Indian X users are cancelling their subscriptions to the social media platform after Elon Musk's remarks questioning whether Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani is the “real boss of India”. Several users have posted screenshots of their subscription cancellations on X, tagging Musk as the row over Starlink's entry into India escalates. The online backlash follows a series of posts by the billionaire entrepreneur accusing unnamed business interests of obstructing his satellite internet company. Musk has questioned why Starlink has yet to receive final approval to begin commercial operations in India, despite being licensed in more than 165 countries. The controversy has also drawn in Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, who responded to Musk's remarks with a pointed reference to "the other guy", purportedly another Indian industrialist. Also read | Who is DogeDesigner? All we know about the X account that sparked India-Musk-Starlink ‘oligarchs’ controversy ‘Welcome to India, Elon’: Rahul Gandhi responds to Musk In a post on X, Musk had asked whether Ambani was the “real boss of India” while criticising the regulatory hurdles facing Starlink. He shared the post amid claims that the government was more concerned with protecting the interests of powerful business groups than those of ordinary citizens. “Starlink is licenced in over 165 countries and has spent five years complying with every single law and requirement of the government of India, so why still no license? Is Ambani the real boss of India?” Musk wrote on X. Earlier, Musk had accused unnamed “oligarchs” of trying to preserve their market dominance by preventing Starlink from entering India. “Unfortunately, we are being blocked by certain oligarchs in order to maintain their monopolistic chokehold on the Indian people. You can guess who they are. This is a crime against the people of India!” he wrote.

Some Indian X users are posting subscription cancellation screenshots and tagging Elon Musk after his remarks questioning whether Mukesh Ambani is the “real boss of India”. The backlash comes amid Musk's escalating row with the Indian government over Starlink's entry into the country.

‘Wait till you discover the other guy’: Rahul Gandhi takes a swipe as Musk's 'Ambani real boss of India' remark triggers X subscription cancellations

Despite the Indian government's clarification on Starlink's licence and regulatory process, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has doubled down on his claims that his satellite internet company is being blocked from entering the Indian market.&nbsp;Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also responded to Musk's latest post on X, leading to a brief exchange between the two.<h3>What did Musk say?</h3>Musk, in a series of posts on X, alleged that "certain oligarchs" were blocking Starlink's entry into India despite the company's efforts to secure regulatory approvals.&nbsp;In his latest post, Musk questioned why Starlink was still waiting to begin commercial operations in India despite being licensed in more than 165 countries.&nbsp;"Starlink is licenced in over 165 countries and has spent five years complying with every single law and requirement of the government of India, so why still no license? Is Ambani the real boss of India?" Musk wrote on X.&nbsp;He made the post while sharing a claim that the Indian government was more interested in protecting "crony capitalists" than the interests of citizens.&nbsp;Musk had made a similar allegation on Wednesday night, writing, “Unfortunately, we are being blocked by certain oligarchs to maintain their monopolistic chokehold on the Indian people. You can guess who they are …,”<h3>How did Rahul Gandhi respond?</h3>Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi responded to Musk's latest post on X.&nbsp;"Welcome to India, Elon. Wait till you discover the other guy," Gandhi wrote.&nbsp;Musk replied within an hour, saying, "Thank you, Rahul. This is indeed troubling."<h3>India makes stance clear on Starlink licence</h3>Earlier in the day, the Indian government responded to the broader claims about the country's regulatory framework for satellite communication services without directly naming Musk.&nbsp;"A post is being circulated on social media regarding the fairness of India's regulatory framework for satellite communication services and suggesting that it is being applied in a discriminatory manner," the government said.&nbsp;It said India has a "fair and non-discriminatory authorisation framework" for all telecommunication services, including satellite communication.&nbsp;The government said licences have been granted to three companies providing satellite communication services based on non-geosynchronous satellite orbit technology.&nbsp;"Under the terms and conditions of license, every such licensee is required to demonstrate compliance with security conditions," the government said, adding that the process is aimed at ensuring the safety of users and their data.&nbsp;"Security assessment as part of this process is currently under way in respect of all the three licensees. As and when this process is completed for a licensed entity, it may proceed to the next step of seeking assignment of spectrum," it added.<h3>Where do things stand?</h3>Starlink already holds a licence to provide satellite communication services in India, but commercial operations have not yet started because the company still needs to complete remaining government requirements, including security-related approvals.&nbsp;Starlink has received Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) authorisation, while IN-SPACe authorised its first-generation constellation in 2025.&nbsp;However, spectrum assignment and security-related requirements are still pending. Starlink has also renewed its push for approval of a larger Gen 2 constellation, including direct-to-device capabilities.The three companies that have received licences are Musk's Starlink, Reliance Jio's satellite venture Jio Satcom and Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb.&nbsp;None of the three companies can begin commercial services until the required security assessments and spectrum-related approvals are completed.

Elon Musk stepped up the ante over Starlink’s delayed entry into India, saying the company is licensed in 165 countries and has spent five years complying with Indian laws and government requirements, and got a response from Rahul Gandhi.

Despite the Indian government's clarification on Starlink's licence and regulatory process, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has doubled down on his claims that his satellite internet company is being blocked from entering the Indian market. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also responded to Musk's latest post on X, leading to a brief exchange between the two. What did Musk say? Musk, in a series of posts on X, alleged that "certain oligarchs" were blocking Starlink's entry into India despite the company's efforts to secure regulatory approvals. In his latest post, Musk questioned why Starlink was still waiting to begin commercial operations in India despite being licensed in more than 165 countries. "Starlink is licenced in over 165 countries and has spent five years complying with every single law and requirement of the government of India, so why still no license? Is Ambani the real boss of India?" Musk wrote on X. He made the post while sharing a claim that the Indian government was more interested in protecting "crony capitalists" than the interests of citizens. Musk had made a similar allegation on Wednesday night, writing, “Unfortunately, we are being blocked by certain oligarchs to maintain their monopolistic chokehold on the Indian people. You can guess who they are …,” How did Rahul Gandhi respond? Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi responded to Musk's latest post on X. "Welcome to India, Elon. Wait till you discover the other guy," Gandhi wrote. Musk replied within an hour, saying, "Thank you, Rahul. This is indeed troubling." India makes stance clear on Starlink licence Earlier in the day, the Indian government responded to the broader claims about the country's regulatory framework for satellite communication services without directly naming Musk. "A post is being circulated on social media regarding the fairness of India's regulatory framework for satellite communication services and suggesting that it is being applied in a discriminatory manner," the government said. It said India has a "fair and non-discriminatory authorisation framework" for all telecommunication services, including satellite communication. The government said licences have been granted to three companies providing satellite communication services based on non-geosynchronous satellite orbit technology. "Under the terms and conditions of license, every such licensee is required to demonstrate compliance with security conditions," the government said, adding that the process is aimed at ensuring the safety of users and their data. "Security assessment as part of this process is currently under way in respect of all the three licensees. As and when this process is completed for a licensed entity, it may proceed to the next step of seeking assignment of spectrum," it added. Where do things stand? Starlink already holds a licence to provide satellite communication services in India, but commercial operations have not yet started because the company still needs to complete remaining government requirements, including security-related approvals. Starlink has received Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) authorisation, while IN-SPACe authorised its first-generation constellation in 2025. However, spectrum assignment and security-related requirements are still pending. Starlink has also renewed its push for approval of a larger Gen 2 constellation, including direct-to-device capabilities. The three companies that have received licences are Musk's Starlink, Reliance Jio's satellite venture Jio Satcom and Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb. None of the three companies can begin commercial services until the required security assessments and spectrum-related approvals are completed.

Elon Musk stepped up the ante over Starlink’s delayed entry into India, saying the company is licensed in 165 countries and has spent five years complying with Indian laws and government requirements, and gets a response from Rahul Gandhi.

Musk doubles down on Starlink India licence allegations; Rahul Gandhi says ‘wait till...’

Elon Musk's latest comments on Starlink's delayed entry into India have triggered a fresh debate over the country's satellite internet market, with the Tesla and SpaceX CEO accusing unnamed "oligarchs" of trying to protect their hold over India's connectivity sector. At the centre of the exchange was an X account known as DogeDesigner, whose post was amplified by Musk before he made the allegations. So, who is DogeDesigner and why does the account have such a close connection to Musk?<h2>Who is DogeDesigner?</h2>DogeDesigner is the X handle used by an account identified only as @cb_doge, who is a UX/UI and graphic designer for the DOGE team. The account is known to be associated with Dogecoin projects and frequently engages with Musk's posts.The account has developed a close association with Musk and has publicly shared posts expressing gratitude for opportunities to meet him and work around his companies and projects.In one post, DogeDesigner wrote about witnessing Starship's maiden launch and meeting Musk, whom the account referred to as "our Technoking"."I will be forever grateful for the confidence that Elon distills so kindly... 'You are talented!'... powerful words that I will always carry with me," the account said.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">During the last couple of months, I’ve gained friends &amp; memories that I will cherish forever! From witnessing the Starship’s maiden launch to meeting our Technoking. I will be forever grateful for the confidence that Elon distills so kindly…”You are talented!”…powerful words that I will always carry with me. It really makes a big difference. Thank you, @elonmusk 🫡&mdash; DogeDesigner (@cb_doge) <a href="https://x.com/cb_doge/status/1666836242330275841?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 8, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>How did DogeDesigner trigger the India-Starlink row?</h2>Musk's October 7 comments came in response to a post shared by DogeDesigner that cited government data on India's connectivity gap. The post claimed that 11,256 listed Indian villages still lacked 4G internet coverage as of May 2026. The supplied material notes that these figures had not been independently confirmed.Musk responded by alleging that Starlink was being blocked by unnamed "oligarchs" seeking to preserve what he called a "monopolistic chokehold" over India's people. "Unfortunately, we are being blocked by certain oligarchs to maintain their monopolistic chokehold on the Indian people. You can guess who they are …," Musk wrote.Musk has previously argued that "Starlink would help the least served in India, especially in rural areas."Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/musk-alleges-oligarchs-blocking-starlink-in-india-here-is-what-we-know-so-far-1791404796061">Musk alleges ‘oligarchs’ blocking Starlink in India, here is what we know so far</a><h2>Musk denies Starlink terminals were active in India</h2>The controversy also involved claims that Starlink terminals were being used near the Manipur-Myanmar border. Musk dismissed those claims, saying they were false and technologically impossible because Starlink's beams remain deactivated over India.Starlink is awaiting completion of India's regulatory and security requirements before commercial services can begin.<h2>What has India said about Starlink's regulatory approval?</h2>India's Ministry of Communications rejected suggestions that its satellite communications framework is discriminatory. According to a PIB statement, India has granted licences to three global mobile personal communications by satellite services using non-geosynchronous satellite orbits. All three licensees are required to meet security conditions before proceeding further.The government said security assessments for all three licensees are currently under way and that all three are broadly at the same regulatory stage. It described suggestions that India's regulatory framework was unfair or discriminatory as "baseless and misconceived".Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/baseless-and-misconceived-india-issues-statement-after-elon-musk-s-oligarchs-claim-over-starlink-delay-1791428405437">India responds to Elon Musk's 'oligarchs' claim over Starlink delay</a><h2>Starlink says it has built India-specific infrastructure</h2>Notably, at the India Mobile Congress 2026, Starlink Vice President for Business Operations Lauren Dreyer said the company had developed India-specific security controls and built 20 gateway sites in the country.Dreyer said Starlink had established controls at every layer to meet Indian security requirements and was keeping Indian users' data within India.

Elon Musk's India-Starlink row was sparked by a post from an X account DogeDesigner, which highlighted India's rural connectivity gap. But who is behind the mysterious account? All we know of its close association with Musk and its role in the latest ‘oligarchs’ controversy.

Elon Musk's latest comments on Starlink's delayed entry into India have triggered a fresh debate over the country's satellite internet market, with the Tesla and SpaceX CEO accusing unnamed "oligarchs" of trying to protect their hold over India's connectivity sector. At the centre of the exchange was an X account known as DogeDesigner, whose post was amplified by Musk before he made the allegations. So, who is DogeDesigner and why does the account have such a close connection to Musk? Who is DogeDesigner? DogeDesigner is the X handle used by an account identified only as @cb_doge, who is a UX/UI and graphic designer for the DOGE team. The account is known to be associated with Dogecoin projects and frequently engages with Musk's posts. The account has developed a close association with Musk and has publicly shared posts expressing gratitude for opportunities to meet him and work around his companies and projects. In one post, DogeDesigner wrote about witnessing Starship's maiden launch and meeting Musk, whom the account referred to as "our Technoking". "I will be forever grateful for the confidence that Elon distills so kindly... 'You are talented!'... powerful words that I will always carry with me," the account said.

Elon Musk's India-Starlink row was sparked by a post from an X account DogeDesigner, which highlighted India's rural connectivity gap. But who is behind the mysterious account? All we know of its close association with Musk and its role in the latest ‘oligarchs’ controversy.

Who is DogeDesigner? All we know about the X account that sparked India-Musk-Starlink ‘oligarchs’ controversy

The Ministry of Communications has unequivocally stated its position on the regulatory framework for satellite communication services. The Ministry said that India's policies in this sphere are fair and non-discriminatory. This comes after Tesla boss Elon Musk has accused certain unnamed ‘oligarchs’ of blocking Starlink’s entry into India, alleging that they are trying to protect their “monopolistic chokehold” over the country’s people. Musk made the remarks on Wednesday (Oct 7) in a post on X while responding to a post citing government data that 11,256 listed villages lacked 4G coverage as of May 2026. He has previously said Starlink could help connect rural and underserved parts of India. “Unfortunately, we are being blocked by certain oligarchs to maintain their monopolistic chokehold on the Indian people. You can guess who they are …,” Musk said in the post.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn3.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2026/20261008/image-1791433977687.png"></figure><h2>What is India's statement?</h2>The statement issued by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) and the Ministry of Communications, stated, "A post is being circulated in social media regarding the fairness of India’s regulatory framework for satellite communication services and suggesting that it is being applied in a discriminatory manner. The Government has put in place a fair and non-discriminatory authorisation framework for all telecommunication services, including satellite communication services. Under this, telecom licences have been granted to three Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite services based on non-geosynchronous satellite orbit based satellite communications, as part of its commitment to enable provision of satellite communication services in India. Under the terms and conditions of license, every such licensee is required to demonstrate compliance with security conditions. This is aimed at ensuring that services provided meet various security requirements to ensure safety of all users and their data. Security assessment as part of this process is currently under way in respect of all the three licensees. As and when this process is completed for a licensed entity, it may proceed to the next step of seeking assignment of spectrum." "At present, all the three entities are at broadly the same regulatory stage. As such, the suggestion that the framework or its application is unfair or discriminatory is baseless and misconceived," the statement added.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn3.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2026/20261008/image-1791434673782.png"></figure>&nbsp;Earlier, on October 7, Vice President, Starlink Business Operations Lauren Dreyer, while speaking at India Mobile Congress 2026, said the company had developed India-specific security controls and has built 20 gateway sites in India, adding, the company is “keeping Indian users’ data within India.” Dreyer said Starlink has invested in building the infrastructure required to serve the Indian market. The Indian government has granted licences to three satellite communication companies, including Starlink, to offer services in the country. “We've built our Starlink operations specifically for India in recognition of Indian security requirements and other regulations, establishing controls at every layer for India, and keeping Indian user data within India,” she said.&nbsp;

India's Ministry of Communications rejected Elon Musk's claim that Starlink is being blocked by 'oligarchs', saying the country's satellite communication framework is fair and non-discriminatory. 

The Ministry of Communications has unequivocally stated its position on the regulatory framework for satellite communication services. The Ministry said that India's policies in this sphere are fair and non-discriminatory. This comes after Tesla boss Elon Musk has accused certain unnamed ‘oligarchs’ of blocking Starlink’s entry into India, alleging that they are trying to protect their “monopolistic chokehold” over the country’s people. Musk made the remarks on Wednesday (Oct 7) in a post on X while responding to a post citing government data that 11,256 listed villages lacked 4G coverage as of May 2026. He has previously said Starlink could help connect rural and underserved parts of India. “Unfortunately, we are being blocked by certain oligarchs to maintain their monopolistic chokehold on the Indian people. You can guess who they are …,” Musk said in the post. What is India's statement? The statement issued by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) and the Ministry of Communications, stated, "A post is being circulated in social media regarding the fairness of India’s regulatory framework for satellite communication services and suggesting that it is being applied in a discriminatory manner. The Government has put in place a fair and non-discriminatory authorisation framework for all telecommunication services, including satellite communication services. Under this, telecom licences have been granted to three Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite services based on non-geosynchronous satellite orbit based satellite communications, as part of its commitment to enable provision of satellite communication services in India. Under the terms and conditions of license, every such licensee is required to demonstrate compliance with security conditions. This is aimed at ensuring that services provided meet various security requirements to ensure safety of all users and their data. Security assessment as part of this process is currently under way in respect of all the three licensees. As and when this process is completed for a licensed entity, it may proceed to the next step of seeking assignment of spectrum." "At present, all the three entities are at broadly the same regulatory stage. As such, the suggestion that the framework or its application is unfair or discriminatory is baseless and misconceived," the statement added. Earlier, on October 7, Vice President, Starlink Business Operations Lauren Dreyer, while speaking at India Mobile Congress 2026, said the company had developed India-specific security controls and has built 20 gateway sites in India, adding, the company is “keeping Indian users’ data within India.” Dreyer said Starlink has invested in building the infrastructure required to serve the Indian market. The Indian government has granted licences to three satellite communication companies, including Starlink, to offer services in the country. “We've built our Starlink operations specifically for India in recognition of Indian security requirements and other regulations, establishing controls at every layer for India, and keeping Indian user data within India,” she said.

India's Ministry of Communications rejected Elon Musk's claim that Starlink is being blocked by 'oligarchs', saying the country's satellite communication framework is fair and non-discriminatory.&nbsp;

'Baseless and misconceived': India issues statement after Elon Musk's 'oligarchs' claim over Starlink delay

Elon Musk has accused certain unnamed oligarchs of blocking Starlink’s entry into India, alleging that they are trying to protect their “monopolistic chokehold” over the country’s people.&nbsp;Musk made the remarks on Wednesday in a post on X while responding to a post citing government data that 11,256 listed villages lacked 4G coverage as of May 2026. He has previously said Starlink could help connect rural and underserved parts of India.&nbsp;“Unfortunately, we are being blocked by certain oligarchs to maintain their monopolistic chokehold on the Indian people. You can guess who they are …,” Musk said in the post.&nbsp;“This is a crime against the people of India!” the Tesla and SpaceX chief added, without naming the individuals or companies he accused.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Unfortunately, we are being blocked by certain oligarchs in order to maintain their monopolistic chokehold on the Indian people. You can guess who they are …

This is a crime against the people of India!&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/2107854307077034294?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 7, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h3>Starlink says it is ready for India</h3>Musk’s comments came a little over a month after Starlink renewed its efforts to enter the Indian market.&nbsp;The company had struck a more measured tone at the India Mobile Congress in New Delhi. Lauren Dreyer, vice president of Starlink Business Operations, said the company had spent five years working with Indian regulators, telecom operators and the industry to prepare for its launch.&nbsp;“We’ve built our Starlink operations specifically for India in recognition of Indian security requirements and other regulations, establishing controls at every layer for India and keeping Indian user data within India,” Dreyer said at the pre-business day of the event.&nbsp;She said Starlink had already invested in India and built 20 gateway sites with hundreds of antennas. “We’ve established the operations to be ready to serve India,” she said.&nbsp;Dreyer also said Starlink has 11,000 satellites in orbit and operates in more than 170 countries. She highlighted the challenge of connecting the last mile and said Starlink could provide connectivity within minutes. “With Starlink, people can get connected within minutes, not years.”&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-midterms-2026-why-the-latino-vote-could-shape-control-of-congress-1791401910853">US midterms 2026: Why the Latino vote could shape control of Congress</a><h3>Government clearances still pending</h3>Starlink holds a licence to provide satellite communication services in India, but commercial operations have not started as the company awaits remaining government clearances, including security approvals.&nbsp;The company already has Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) authorisation, while IN-SPACe authorised its first generation constellation in 2025. Spectrum assignment and security-related requirements are still pending. Starlink has also renewed its push for approval of a larger Gen 2 constellation, including direct-to-device capabilities.&nbsp;In February, Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia reiterated that Starlink must meet all security clearance requirements before beginning services in India.&nbsp;Responding to a question about the Iran incident, where Starlink reportedly began operating without a licence, Scindia said the existing security framework applies equally to all operators.“We have a performance of what the security rules are. Any operator who complies with those rules will be allowed to operate in India,” the minister said.

Elon Musk has alleged that unnamed “oligarchs” are blocking Starlink’s India launch, while the satellite internet company awaits pending government clearances to begin commercial operations.

Elon Musk has accused certain unnamed oligarchs of blocking Starlink’s entry into India, alleging that they are trying to protect their “monopolistic chokehold” over the country’s people. Musk made the remarks on Wednesday in a post on X while responding to a post citing government data that 11,256 listed villages lacked 4G coverage as of May 2026. He has previously said Starlink could help connect rural and underserved parts of India. “Unfortunately, we are being blocked by certain oligarchs to maintain their monopolistic chokehold on the Indian people. You can guess who they are …,” Musk said in the post. “This is a crime against the people of India!” the Tesla and SpaceX chief added, without naming the individuals or companies he accused.

Elon Musk has alleged that unnamed “oligarchs” are blocking Starlink’s India launch, while the satellite internet company awaits pending government clearances to begin commercial operations.

Musk alleges ‘oligarchs’ blocking Starlink in India, here is what we know so far

Elon Musk is joining the US push to strengthen its artificial intelligence capabilities amid an intensifying global technology race. Musk’s involvement comes as Washington seeks to expand AI development and maintain its technological edge. The move highlights the growing role of major tech leaders in America’s AI strategy.


Elon Musk joins America’s AI war push amid global tech race

Tesla boss Elon Musk will be back in the White House as War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that he will co-lead Project Meridian, a new Pentagon initiative tasked with looking at the future of warfare in the US. Essentially, it means he will look into years ahead to identify emerging domains of warfare and the capabilities the US military will need to dominate them. This assessment will help the Pentagon to determine which weapons and technology American troops will need to fight the wars of the future. Hegseth also announced the establishment of the Autonomous Warfare Command (AUTOWARCOM), a brand-new four-star combatant command endowed with "service-like authorities" designed to rapidly scale autonomous and robotic capabilities across the joint forces. The department will also introduce dedicated occupational frameworks to build career tracks for a new generation of "autonomous warfighters."&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-sends-wish-him-well-message-for-elon-musk-after-breakup-tesla-boss-gives-one-word-response-1749273730079">Trump sends 'wish him well' message for Elon Musk after breakup: Tesla boss gives one-word response</a><h3>Who are the part of this team?</h3>Musk, the former leader of the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), will lead the effort alongside defense tech billionaire Palmer Luckey and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich under the direction of War Department Chief Technology Officer Emil Michael. According to Fox News, the high-level advisory panel will be co-led by Elon Musk alongside defence-tech czar Palmer Luckey and former US House Speaker Newt Gingrich. The project will operate under the supervision of the department's Chief Technology Officer, Emil Michael. According to Hegseth, both Musk and Luckey bring firsthand experience developing technology for the US military. Musk’s SpaceX serves as a major Pentagon contractor, while Luckey’s Anduril Industries specialises in autonomous weapons and other advanced military systems.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-tesla-ceo-regrets-supporting-donald-trump-in-united-states-9029278">'Yes...but cut that part': Elon Musk quips when asked if he regrets supporting Donald Trump</a><h2>Objectives for Project Meridian&nbsp;</h2>Highlighting the objective of the mission, Hegseth described Project Meridian as “an effort led by America's best minds to study the future of warfare." It is part of an overarching push by Hegseth to reorient the American military around autonomous warfare and rapidly emerging technology. "The best forecasters of future conflict do not solely reside inside the Pentagon. There are obvious biases and risks to asking ourselves to both ask the questions and answer them," he said. Project Meridian has been given a strict 120-day deadline to "ruthlessly map the trajectory of wars, domains and technologies." The assessment will culminate in a public presentation of its broad findings alongside a classified annex for military leadership. Hegseth outlined an expansive mandate stretching "from under the Earth to beyond the moon."&nbsp;

Elon Musk will co-lead Project Meridian, a new Pentagon initiative examining future warfare and the technologies the US military will need. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth also announced a four-star Autonomous Warfare Command to rapidly expand robotic and autonomous capabilities.

Tesla boss Elon Musk will be back in the White House as War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that he will co-lead Project Meridian, a new Pentagon initiative tasked with looking at the future of warfare in the US. Essentially, it means he will look into years ahead to identify emerging domains of warfare and the capabilities the US military will need to dominate them. This assessment will help the Pentagon to determine which weapons and technology American troops will need to fight the wars of the future. Hegseth also announced the establishment of the Autonomous Warfare Command (AUTOWARCOM), a brand-new four-star combatant command endowed with "service-like authorities" designed to rapidly scale autonomous and robotic capabilities across the joint forces. The department will also introduce dedicated occupational frameworks to build career tracks for a new generation of "autonomous warfighters." Also Read: Trump sends 'wish him well' message for Elon Musk after breakup: Tesla boss gives one-word response Who are the part of this team? Musk, the former leader of the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), will lead the effort alongside defense tech billionaire Palmer Luckey and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich under the direction of War Department Chief Technology Officer Emil Michael. According to Fox News, the high-level advisory panel will be co-led by Elon Musk alongside defence-tech czar Palmer Luckey and former US House Speaker Newt Gingrich. The project will operate under the supervision of the department's Chief Technology Officer, Emil Michael. According to Hegseth, both Musk and Luckey bring firsthand experience developing technology for the US military. Musk’s SpaceX serves as a major Pentagon contractor, while Luckey’s Anduril Industries specialises in autonomous weapons and other advanced military systems. Also Read: 'Yes...but cut that part': Elon Musk quips when asked if he regrets supporting Donald Trump Objectives for Project Meridian Highlighting the objective of the mission, Hegseth described Project Meridian as “an effort led by America's best minds to study the future of warfare." It is part of an overarching push by Hegseth to reorient the American military around autonomous warfare and rapidly emerging technology. "The best forecasters of future conflict do not solely reside inside the Pentagon. There are obvious biases and risks to asking ourselves to both ask the questions and answer them," he said. Project Meridian has been given a strict 120-day deadline to "ruthlessly map the trajectory of wars, domains and technologies." The assessment will culminate in a public presentation of its broad findings alongside a classified annex for military leadership. Hegseth outlined an expansive mandate stretching "from under the Earth to beyond the moon."

Elon Musk will co-lead Project Meridian, a new Pentagon initiative examining future warfare and the technologies the US military will need. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth also announced a four-star Autonomous Warfare Command to rapidly expand robotic and autonomous capabilities.

Elon Musk back in Trump admin, will help Pentagon map 'future of warfare, autonomous weapons'

SpaceX achieved another milestone on Monday when its Starship rocket entered orbit for the first time and deployed 26 V3 satellites. The historic event was livestreamed, and eagle-eyed viewers caught something strange in space. They spotted something trailing behind the spacecraft nearly eight minutes into the test flight. They saw a narrow and curved streak of pale blue light with a brighter white tip in the darkness behind the rocket.&nbsp;This visual at seven minutes and 55 seconds triggered speculations about the nature of this object. Most netizens are sure that it was a UFO, basically an unidentified object since its nature remains a mystery. It wasn't something that only a few people caught, but the comments showed that a lot of them noticed the bizarre object in the background. "I think we all just saw a UFO live-streamed," one wrote.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/spacex-launches-starship-flight-14-to-earth-orbit-live-1790599062580">Starship’s 14th flight makes history, reaches orbit and deploys 26 Starlink V3 satellites</a><h2>ISS or mothership?</h2>Some think it is said it looks like a "mothership" which was "bigger than a city." Another stated, "I couldn't believe my eyes. I'm glad it wasn't just me that saw it." Others tried coming up with more practical answers, such as if the object could be the International Space Station or even a satellite. However, there is no clarity on whether it could have been either of the two.&nbsp;Meanwhile, one person suggested that the object visible was simply a streak of gas left behind by the Super Heavy booster. After the rocket separated, the booster had shut down and then fired up again for the return trip. It appears to be rising from behind Earth because it was hidden behind Earth's horizon. Another user confirmed that he saw it at six minutes and 35 seconds after launch, with a small, fuzzy blue-white patch appearing in the scene.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I was able to zoom in on it a bit more. I still can&#39;t make it out myself. Anyone else? <a href="https://t.co/wG55SvaxAC">pic.twitter.com/wG55SvaxAC</a>&mdash; Name Cannot Be Blank (@DevanEaste98912) <a href="https://x.com/DevanEaste98912/status/2104781336196350353?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;However, some of them grabbed the occasion to go all-out on the alien theory. One even tagged Elon Musk and asked, "Hey Elon, is this Mothership?" Engineer Kyle Holl linked it to one of the engines shutting down during the flight, writing, “Hmm, an engine out and then an alien battle cruiser uncloaks. Interesting.”<h2>Starship launch - SpaceX's largest rocket enters orbit</h2>Starship was launched at 8:46 am ET from SpaceX's Starbase on Monday, attempting to make history by reaching orbit. It successfully did so and even deployed its 26 payloads, the V3 satellites. Ground teams made contact with all of them. The rocket was supposed to stay in space for 10 hours, but the mission was cut short after one of the engines unexpectedly shut down. At 11:58 am, it tried to make a gentle splashdown, but erupted into a huge fireball.

Starship launch: SpaceX's live stream revealed a strange-looking object in the background which some people said could be a UFO. One expert said it was a gas streak from the booster, but most users continued to fire up alien theories.

SpaceX achieved another milestone on Monday when its Starship rocket entered orbit for the first time and deployed 26 V3 satellites. The historic event was livestreamed, and eagle-eyed viewers caught something strange in space. They spotted something trailing behind the spacecraft nearly eight minutes into the test flight. They saw a narrow and curved streak of pale blue light with a brighter white tip in the darkness behind the rocket. This visual at seven minutes and 55 seconds triggered speculations about the nature of this object. Most netizens are sure that it was a UFO, basically an unidentified object since its nature remains a mystery. It wasn't something that only a few people caught, but the comments showed that a lot of them noticed the bizarre object in the background. "I think we all just saw a UFO live-streamed," one wrote. Also Read: Starship’s 14th flight makes history, reaches orbit and deploys 26 Starlink V3 satellites ISS or mothership? Some think it is said it looks like a "mothership" which was "bigger than a city." Another stated, "I couldn't believe my eyes. I'm glad it wasn't just me that saw it." Others tried coming up with more practical answers, such as if the object could be the International Space Station or even a satellite. However, there is no clarity on whether it could have been either of the two. Meanwhile, one person suggested that the object visible was simply a streak of gas left behind by the Super Heavy booster. After the rocket separated, the booster had shut down and then fired up again for the return trip. It appears to be rising from behind Earth because it was hidden behind Earth's horizon. Another user confirmed that he saw it at six minutes and 35 seconds after launch, with a small, fuzzy blue-white patch appearing in the scene.

Starship launch: SpaceX's live stream revealed a strange-looking object in the background which some people said could be a UFO. One expert said it was a gas streak from the booster, but most users continued to fire up alien theories.

Mysterious object behind Starship fires up UFO theories - 'Hey Elon, is this...'

Tesla CEO Elon Musk is putting humanoid robots at the centre of the company's future, as the electric vehicle maker ramps up Optimus production plans and spends heavily on artificial intelligence. During Tesla's second-quarter 2026 earnings call, Musk described the robot as potentially the biggest product in history, while warning that manufacturing it will be harder than building cars.&nbsp;The shift comes even as Tesla reported $28.2 billion in quarterly revenue, up 26% year on year. Yet adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation fell 4% to $3.3 billion. Tesla shares subsequently dropped more than 14% by late Thursday afternoon.&nbsp;<h2>Elon Musk says Optimus is Tesla's biggest bet yet</h2>Musk said Tesla would soon begin series production of Optimus Version 3, with the Fremont, California, factory being refitted to accommodate robot manufacturing. The facility's Model S and Model X production lines were expected to make way for Optimus this summer. Musk described the factory as "quite stunning".&nbsp;But he also acknowledged the scale of the challenge.&nbsp;"This is going to be the hardest product to scale-manufacture that we've ever made at Tesla," Musk said. Unlike electric cars, which can rely on established suppliers for many conventional components, Optimus has no existing supply chain for much of its hardware.Musk said the robot must eventually learn tasks simply by receiving instructions or watching a video, without requiring specific programming. He called this one of the hardest problems to solve. Tesla's chief financial officer, Vaibhav Taneja, also warned of massive capital expenditure in 2026, much of it linked to Optimus and AI investment.&nbsp;<h2>Robotaxi expands as Tesla pushes beyond electric cars</h2>Tesla is also expanding its Robotaxi service, which currently uses modified Model Y vehicles equipped with its Full Self-Driving technology. The service operates in selected locations in Texas, Florida and the San Francisco Bay Area. "We'll continue to scale, I think, very rapidly," Musk said, pointing to growth of more than 10% a week in miles driven. He also claimed that demand for Full Self-Driving is strong in markets where it is legally permitted, with some customers prioritising the software over the vehicle itself.Tesla reported 480,126 Model Y and Model 3 deliveries combined in the quarter, without providing a separate breakdown for each model.&nbsp;<h2>Tesla's robot ambition faces a major manufacturing test</h2>Musk's long-term ambition is to move Optimus from internal factory use to industrial customers, with production expected to ramp up in 2027. However, earlier production promises and reveal timelines have slipped. The company has yet to establish a large-scale commercial supply chain for the robot.&nbsp;The Roadster, another long-promised Tesla vehicle, also received no new update during the call. For investors, the central question is whether Tesla can turn its AI and robotics spending into sustainable revenue. The latest earnings call made clear that Musk sees Optimus as central to that future, but the manufacturing challenge remains unresolved.

Elon Musk says Tesla's future depends on Optimus humanoid robots as the company prepares production and expands Robotaxi. Revenue rose 26% to $28.2 billion in Q2 2026, but adjusted earnings fell 4% and shares dropped over 14%.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk is putting humanoid robots at the centre of the company's future, as the electric vehicle maker ramps up Optimus production plans and spends heavily on artificial intelligence. During Tesla's second-quarter 2026 earnings call, Musk described the robot as potentially the biggest product in history, while warning that manufacturing it will be harder than building cars. The shift comes even as Tesla reported $28.2 billion in quarterly revenue, up 26% year on year. Yet adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation fell 4% to $3.3 billion. Tesla shares subsequently dropped more than 14% by late Thursday afternoon. Elon Musk says Optimus is Tesla's biggest bet yet Musk said Tesla would soon begin series production of Optimus Version 3, with the Fremont, California, factory being refitted to accommodate robot manufacturing. The facility's Model S and Model X production lines were expected to make way for Optimus this summer. Musk described the factory as "quite stunning". But he also acknowledged the scale of the challenge. "This is going to be the hardest product to scale-manufacture that we've ever made at Tesla," Musk said. Unlike electric cars, which can rely on established suppliers for many conventional components, Optimus has no existing supply chain for much of its hardware. Musk said the robot must eventually learn tasks simply by receiving instructions or watching a video, without requiring specific programming. He called this one of the hardest problems to solve. Tesla's chief financial officer, Vaibhav Taneja, also warned of massive capital expenditure in 2026, much of it linked to Optimus and AI investment. Robotaxi expands as Tesla pushes beyond electric cars Tesla is also expanding its Robotaxi service, which currently uses modified Model Y vehicles equipped with its Full Self-Driving technology. The service operates in selected locations in Texas, Florida and the San Francisco Bay Area. "We'll continue to scale, I think, very rapidly," Musk said, pointing to growth of more than 10% a week in miles driven. He also claimed that demand for Full Self-Driving is strong in markets where it is legally permitted, with some customers prioritising the software over the vehicle itself. Tesla reported 480,126 Model Y and Model 3 deliveries combined in the quarter, without providing a separate breakdown for each model. Tesla's robot ambition faces a major manufacturing test Musk's long-term ambition is to move Optimus from internal factory use to industrial customers, with production expected to ramp up in 2027. However, earlier production promises and reveal timelines have slipped. The company has yet to establish a large-scale commercial supply chain for the robot. The Roadster, another long-promised Tesla vehicle, also received no new update during the call. For investors, the central question is whether Tesla can turn its AI and robotics spending into sustainable revenue. The latest earnings call made clear that Musk sees Optimus as central to that future, but the manufacturing challenge remains unresolved.

Elon Musk says Tesla's future depends on Optimus humanoid robots as the company prepares production and expands Robotaxi. Revenue rose 26% to $28.2 billion in Q2 2026, but adjusted earnings fell 4% and shares dropped over 14%.

Tesla optimus could be musk's biggest product yet, but he admits it faces a huge problem

Tesla and xAI CEO Elon Musk has issued a bold economic prediction, stating that rapid artificial intelligence deployment could roughly double U.S. GDP growth from around 2% to 4% or higher by 2027. Musk's optimistic outlook contrasts sharply with official forecasts, including the Federal Reserve's recent projection of 2.4% GDP growth for 2027. While tech companies continue pouring massive capital into chips and data center infrastructure, analysts note that achieving Musk's ambitious target will depend heavily on whether current AI investments can unlock broad-based productivity gains across the economy.   


Elon Musk predicts AI could double US GDP growth to 4%

A video showing a speech-impaired man speaking "I love you" to his partner using a brain chip is going viral on social media. Elon Musk-owned Neuralink shared the heartfelt moment on the social media platform X and described the man as a voluntary clinical trial participant. In the video, the man's wife is seen standing next to him, who got excited and surprised after the technology interpreted the man's thoughts and then spoke the words out loud in a synthetic voice using artificial intelligence (AI). Musk reshared the video, using the man's words as the caption. Those three words mark a significant milestone for the company, which carried out a similar demonstration earlier this year with a participant named Kenneth in March. This real-world use of the brain implant highlights the growing capabilities of a technology that continues to spark debate worldwide.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">A beautiful surprise <a href="https://t.co/AS7Zox1VIh">pic.twitter.com/AS7Zox1VIh</a>&mdash; Neuralink (@neuralink) <a href="https://x.com/neuralink/status/2100342084011978896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 16, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Although researchers have spent decades developing brain-computer interfaces, the field remains in its early stages, with only a few hundred people worldwide having received such implants so far.&nbsp;Also read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/washington-needs-to-do-its-job-newsom-backs-kill-switch-for-advanced-ai-models-as-california-steps-up-safety-push-1789796105616"> 'Washington needs to do its job': Newsom backs ‘kill switch’ for advanced AI models as California steps up safety push</a><h3>What is Elon Musk-owned Neuralink?</h3>Neuralink is designed to help people with paralysis, blindness, hearing loss and more regain function. The developed technology connects the brain directly to the electronic device, thereby bypassing the rest of the body. The device helps to translate electrical signals produced by the brain into commands that control machines. At the beginning of 2026, the Musk-led company claimed that a total of 21 participants enrolled worldwide for the trial of Neuralink. It's been over two years since Neuralink began testing on humans. The first patient in the trial of Neuralink has played video games, browsed the internet and moved a cursor on a laptop.

This real-world use of the brain implant highlights the growing capabilities of a technology that continues to spark debate worldwide. Although researchers have spent decades developing brain-computer interfaces, the field remains in its early stages.

A video showing a speech-impaired man speaking "I love you" to his partner using a brain chip is going viral on social media. Elon Musk-owned Neuralink shared the heartfelt moment on the social media platform X and described the man as a voluntary clinical trial participant. In the video, the man's wife is seen standing next to him, who got excited and surprised after the technology interpreted the man's thoughts and then spoke the words out loud in a synthetic voice using artificial intelligence (AI). Musk reshared the video, using the man's words as the caption. Those three words mark a significant milestone for the company, which carried out a similar demonstration earlier this year with a participant named Kenneth in March. This real-world use of the brain implant highlights the growing capabilities of a technology that continues to spark debate worldwide.

This real-world use of the brain implant highlights the growing capabilities of a technology that continues to spark debate worldwide. Although researchers have spent decades developing brain-computer interfaces, the field remains in its early stages.

WATCH: Speech-impaired man uses Neuralink chip brain implant to say 'I love you' to wife

Elon Musk's mother, Maye Musk, says she sleeps in the garage when she is at Starbase, SpaceX’s rocket development and launch site in Boca Chica, Texas. Explaining the reason for it, she says, "You can't have a fancy house near a rocket site." In an interview with the New York Post ahead of the release of her new book, she said having "a couch or a mattress on the floor" is good for her. People have known about it for several years. In 2022, Musk joked on social media, “I've done a lot with the place.”<h2>Musk wants to use his money to colonise Mars</h2>Musk does not own a fancy, luxurious residence in Boca Chica either. He reportedly lives in a compact, prefabricated home worth around $50,000, which he rents directly from SpaceX. He has publicly committed to selling off most of his personal real estate portfolio and physical possessions to fund SpaceX and Mars colonisation.&nbsp;&nbsp;He has publicly declared that he is giving up all his material possessions to devote himself “to Mars and Earth.” He has also talked about how, when he was in the San Francisco Bay Area for Tesla operations, he lived with his friends.&nbsp;Maye Musk is also used to this kind of living and used to couch-surf. She details her life in the book "Timeless: The Art of Reinvention and Resilience at Any Age." She talks about her return to modelling as a septuagenarian in the memoir. Maye Musk became the oldest woman to be on the cover of Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit edition at the age of 74.<h2>Maye Musk's life as a single mother</h2>She separated from her husband, Errol Musk and raised three children as a single mother. Kimbal, 53, who is a businessman and restaurateur and on the board of Tesla and SpaceX, and Tosca, 52, a filmmaker with her own streaming company.&nbsp;Maye moved to New York at the age of 50 since she loved the fast life here and it would also help her prioritise modelling. She is currently a model, dietitian, speaker and a social media personality. She builds her own social media profile and screens modelling and speaking opportunities instead of handing the job to a team.<h2>Elon Musk was a genius at age 3, she says</h2>Talking about her son Elon Musk with The Telegraph, Maye said he was a genius by the age of three. She said he was a "quiet child… just reading all the time". He was chronically sleep-deprived from reading all night. She says he would reason with her as a three-year-old about things such a young child would know nothing about. Elon went to live with his father at the age of 10 because he could afford a computer and had encyclopaedias.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Maye Musk, Elon Musk's mother, says she sleeps in his garage when she visits Starbase. She will soon release a memoir about her return to modelling in her 70s. Maye also described her oldest son as a “genius” at the age of three. 

Elon Musk's mother, Maye Musk, says she sleeps in the garage when she is at Starbase, SpaceX’s rocket development and launch site in Boca Chica, Texas. Explaining the reason for it, she says, "You can't have a fancy house near a rocket site." In an interview with the New York Post ahead of the release of her new book, she said having "a couch or a mattress on the floor" is good for her. People have known about it for several years. In 2022, Musk joked on social media, “I've done a lot with the place.” Musk wants to use his money to colonise Mars Musk does not own a fancy, luxurious residence in Boca Chica either. He reportedly lives in a compact, prefabricated home worth around $50,000, which he rents directly from SpaceX. He has publicly committed to selling off most of his personal real estate portfolio and physical possessions to fund SpaceX and Mars colonisation. He has publicly declared that he is giving up all his material possessions to devote himself “to Mars and Earth.” He has also talked about how, when he was in the San Francisco Bay Area for Tesla operations, he lived with his friends. Maye Musk is also used to this kind of living and used to couch-surf. She details her life in the book "Timeless: The Art of Reinvention and Resilience at Any Age." She talks about her return to modelling as a septuagenarian in the memoir. Maye Musk became the oldest woman to be on the cover of Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit edition at the age of 74. Maye Musk's life as a single mother She separated from her husband, Errol Musk and raised three children as a single mother. Kimbal, 53, who is a businessman and restaurateur and on the board of Tesla and SpaceX, and Tosca, 52, a filmmaker with her own streaming company. Maye moved to New York at the age of 50 since she loved the fast life here and it would also help her prioritise modelling. She is currently a model, dietitian, speaker and a social media personality. She builds her own social media profile and screens modelling and speaking opportunities instead of handing the job to a team. Elon Musk was a genius at age 3, she says Talking about her son Elon Musk with The Telegraph, Maye said he was a genius by the age of three. She said he was a "quiet child… just reading all the time". He was chronically sleep-deprived from reading all night. She says he would reason with her as a three-year-old about things such a young child would know nothing about. Elon went to live with his father at the age of 10 because he could afford a computer and had encyclopaedias.

Maye Musk, Elon Musk's mother, says she sleeps in his garage when she visits Starbase. She will soon release a memoir about her return to modelling in her 70s. Maye also described her oldest son as a “genius” at the age of three.&nbsp;

Elon Musk's mother says he was a genius at 3, shares she sleeps in his garage

Elon Musk has confirmed Tesla will unveil its long-delayed next-generation Roadster on October 1. Expected to debut in Texas, the all-new carbon-fibre hypercar may feature a SpaceX-developed cold-gas thruster system. This follows the recent rollout of Tesla's driverless Cybercab.

Elon Musk has confirmed Tesla will unveil its long-delayed next-generation Roadster on October 1. Expected to debut in Texas, the all-new carbon-fibre hypercar may feature a SpaceX-developed cold-gas thruster system. This follows the recent rollout of Tesla's driverless Cybercab.

Tesla to unveil long-delayed Roadster on October 1 with SpaceX thrusters: report

elon-musk

Elon Musk, News on Elon Musk, stories on Elon Musk, articles on Elon Musk, Elon Musk stories at Wion, Elon Musk news, Elon Musk latest news

elon musk

'Tap dancing through a minefield': Musk backs SpaceX-Tesla merger as AI boom fuels rocket firm's first profit

Musk could end up giving $10.5bn to American kids under his new plan

SpaceX shares climb despite Bandwagon-5 delay, Musk’s gift pledge to US children

Elon Musk features on Lucknow's 'anti-India' Ravan poster alongside Rahul Gandhi

Starlink 'ready to connect India with high-speed internet' amid Reliance row

US midterms 2026: Here’s who Ken Paxton might thank if he wins Texas Senate race

Tesla Roadster's thrusters vs rocket engines: What's the difference?

How Elon Musk’s new flying car is different from regular cars?

Tesla's Roadster: 10 features of Musk's 'flying car' that push the limits of EVs

'Turns out future has flying cars': Musk's Tesla unveils 'flying' sports car

Ukraine blinded: Musk deflects blame on Trump, Putin sharpens attack

'India won't change security policy under pressure': BJP MP slams Elon Musk

EXPLAINED: Why is Elon Musk’s Starlink still struggling to crack Indian market?

'Spent Rs 2,000 cr to elect Trump': Elon Musk bought US President's loyalty by writing the biggest political cheque in human history

Musk shares reports alleging Reliance funding BJP campaigns, donations

‘Real boss of India’: Elon Musk escalates attack over Starlink’s India entry

India defends Starlink rules, rejects Musk's 'Oligarch' claim

Starlink row: India reacts to Musk’s allegations, says 'no monopoly allowed'

‘Wait till you...’: RaGa joins in on Musk's 'Ambani real boss of India' remark

Musk doubles down on Starlink India claims, Rahul Gandhi responds ‘wait till...’

Who's DogeDesigner: Musk-linked X account at the heart of the India-Starlink row

India responds to Elon Musk's 'oligarchs' claim over Starlink delay

Musk alleges ‘oligarchs’ blocking Starlink in India, here is what we know so far

Elon Musk joins America’s AI war push amid global tech race

Elon Musk gets a new mission under Trump: Shaping the future of US warfare

Mysterious object behind Starship fires up UFO theories - 'Hey Elon, is this...'