Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu has defended India's low mobile data prices amid Elon Musk's criticism of the country's business environment and Starlink's delayed entry into the market. Vembu credited Reliance Jio's entry into the telecom sector with making mobile internet more affordable and argued that competition has benefited ordinary consumers.
In a post on X on October 10, Vembu highlighted India's low mobile data costs, affordable medicines and inexpensive digital payment systems through the Unified Payments Interface (UPI).
Vembu said India has among the lowest data prices in the world. He added that mobile internet was so cheap that he often relied on his cell phone’s data when travelling in India instead of using Wi-Fi.
He also noted that Indians commonly use dual-SIM phones and large data packages because mobile internet is cheaper. Vembu directly credited Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani's launch of Jio with bringing down data prices.
“These are the facts, Elon,” Vembu wrote, responding to Musk's criticism of India's telecom market.
Vembu also drew a comparison between India's telecom market and the US electric vehicle industry. Vembu argued that U.S. policies limiting Chinese electric vehicle imports reduce competition for Tesla and may keep prices higher than they would be in a more competitive market.
Defending Prime Minister Narendra Modi's economic policies, Vembu said the government had worked to create a competitive economy in which ordinary people benefit from lower prices.
He also pointed to the growth of startups in India, saying government policies had encouraged competition and helped Indian startups make progress in developing low-cost rockets. According to Vembu, these developments could pose a challenge to SpaceX, just as Chinese electric vehicles challenge Tesla.
Elon Musk has alleged that powerful corporate interests have obstructed Starlink’s entry into India to protect their market positions. Moreover, Musk mocked Ambani via a post he made on X regarding his power over the Indian business atmosphere.
Musk contended that Starlink will be able to offer internet services to people living in remote areas where internet connectivity is not available. He argued that satellite internet could expand educational access for students and help businesses reach international markets.
Besides, Starlink can help to restore communication in times of disasters. The Indian government has rejected allegations of favoritism, maintaining that satellite internet providers must meet applicable regulatory requirements before launching commercial services. Starlink's entry into India remains subject to the necessary approvals and clearances.