Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday held a telephonic conversation with Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, reaffirming India’s commitment to deepening collaboration with the United States in areas of technology and innovation. The call revisited key topics discussed during their in-person meeting in Washington DC earlier this year.
“Spoke to Elon Musk and talked about various issues, including the topics we covered during our meeting in Washington DC earlier this year,” PM Modi wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “We discussed the immense potential for collaboration in the areas of technology and innovation. India remains committed to advancing our partnerships with the US in these domains,” he added.
Musk’s Growing Interest in India
The call comes amid increased activity from Musk’s companies—particularly Tesla and Starlink—in the Indian market. Tesla has been in discussions with Indian authorities regarding plans to establish a manufacturing base in the country. Simultaneously, Starlink is awaiting key security clearances to begin operations, even as rival firms prepare to enter the satellite internet race.
Reliance Jio had earlier inked a deal with SpaceX in March to offer satellite broadband services in India. Another partnership between Bharti Airtel and SpaceX has also been in the works.
A Continued Dialogue Since Washington Visit
This conversation follows PM Modi and Musk’s meeting in February during Modi’s two-day official visit to the United States. During the meeting, the leaders expressed optimism about cooperation in sectors like electric mobility, renewable energy, and space technology.
In a personal touch, PM Modi had gifted Musk’s three children a selection of Indian literary classics — The Crescent Moon by Rabindranath Tagore, The Great RK Narayan Collection, and Panchatantra by Pandit Vishnu Sharma. Photos shared later showed Musk’s children reading the gifted books.
Starlink’s Hurdles and India’s Tech Push
The timing of the conversation is significant, as Starlink is currently awaiting security clearance for operations in India, despite competitors like Bharti Group-backed Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio Satellite Communications already receiving licenses. However, these rivals are also on standby, as the government has yet to finalise spectrum allocation rules.
Starlink operates the world’s largest satellite constellation with over 6,750 satellites. In comparison, Eutelsat OneWeb has around 600, and Jio’s partners manage roughly 70 satellites. With this edge, Starlink is considered a potential disruptor in India’s growing satellite broadband market.
Trade Agreement on the Horizon
The Modi-Musk call also aligns with broader Indo-US discussions aimed at finalising a bilateral trade agreement, with both countries hoping to conclude the first phase of the deal by fall 2025. The agreement is expected to touch upon emerging sectors, including tech, space, and mobility—areas where Musk’s companies have vested interests.
