Elon Musk and Narendra Modi Discuss India’s Space and Technology Collaboration

India highlights opportunities to strengthen ties in emerging technologies, space innovation, and digital transformation.

By M Muzamil Shami - February 14, 2025

     Elon Musk and Narendra Modi discuss India’s space, tech, and Starlink expansion.

WASHINGTON: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk in Washington on Thursday to discuss advancements in space, technology, and mobility. Their conversation focused on Starlink’s anticipated expansion into India and broader cooperation in emerging tech sectors, including artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, and governance.

According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs, their dialogue explored avenues to deepen partnerships in entrepreneurship, space exploration, and emerging technologies, reinforcing India’s commitment to becoming a global leader in innovation.

Earlier reports from Reuters indicated that Modi’s itinerary included a scheduled meeting with Musk during his official visit to the United States, with Starlink's strategic entry into India's fast-growing satellite broadband market among the key topics.

SpaceX’s Starlink project has long pursued entry into India, encountering resistance from domestic telecom giants, including Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Jio. The debate over satellite spectrum allocation has fueled industry tensions, with India’s government siding with Musk’s view that spectrum should be assigned rather than auctioned. Despite this, Starlink’s licensing application remains under regulatory review.

India’s upcoming decision on Starlink’s market entry has stirred the domestic satellite industry, bringing regulatory policies on space-based communication networks into focus. This move is expected to shape India’s commercial space sector and reinforce its ambition to become a global space technology hub.

Musk, known for his disruptive innovations in the technology sector, leads SpaceX, a company that has revolutionized space transportation with its Starlink broadband network and Falcon 9 rocket launches, widely utilized by Western space programs.

Historic collaborations between Modi and the US on space and technology have set precedents. In 2023, India signed the US Artemis Accords, a landmark agreement governing modern lunar and space activities, following Modi’s high-profile meeting with then-US President Joe Biden.

During his two-day visit, Modi is also expected to engage in diplomatic discussions with US President Donald Trump, with trade relations, technology investments, and tariff adjustments likely topping the agenda. However, sources told Reuters that he is unlikely to meet other business leaders during this trip.