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In a move underscoring pragmatism over rivalry, Microsoft has unveiled a new partnership with Starlink, the satellite internet arm of SpaceX, despite ongoing tensions between Elon Musk and OpenAI — a company with which Microsoft maintains a strategic alliance.
The announcement signals that Microsoft remains open to collaborating with Musk’s ventures even as the billionaire entrepreneur is locked in a high-profile legal dispute with OpenAI and its co-founder Sam Altman.
Expanding Connectivity in Kenya
The newly revealed partnership will bring together Microsoft, Starlink, and a Kenyan internet service provider to connect 540 community hubs across Kenya. The initiative aims to expand reliable digital access by combining low-Earth orbit satellite connectivity with local, community-driven deployment models.
Melanie Nakagawa, Microsoft’s Chief Sustainability Officer, detailed the strategic intent behind the collaboration in a company blog post.
“Through our collaboration with Starlink, Microsoft is combining low-Earth orbit satellite connectivity with community-based deployment models and local ecosystem partnerships,” she wrote. “This is intended to expand the set of tools available to deliver digital access while remaining firmly embedded in a holistic, partnership-driven approach.”
The partnership highlights growing global demand for satellite-based internet infrastructure, particularly in regions where traditional connectivity remains limited.
Musk’s Legal Battle with OpenAI
The announcement comes against the backdrop of a heated and ongoing legal confrontation between Musk and OpenAI. Musk, who co-founded OpenAI in 2015 alongside Altman and others including LinkedIn founder and Microsoft board member Reid Hoffman, has accused the AI company of straying from its original nonprofit mission.
According to court filings, Musk is demanding $134 billion from both Microsoft and OpenAI, claiming he is entitled to what he describes as “wrongful gains” resulting from his early support of the startup. He has argued that OpenAI’s transition into a for-profit entity violates its founding principles.
The dispute has frequently spilled onto social media platform X, where Musk has publicly criticized Microsoft and questioned its oversight responsibilities regarding Hoffman’s past association with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Earlier this year, a batch of documents related to Epstein included correspondence referencing Hoffman’s visits to Epstein’s private island, New Mexico ranch, and New York residence. Hoffman has stated that he knew Epstein through fundraising efforts tied to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and has expressed regret over the relationship.
SpaceX Momentum and IPO Speculation
Meanwhile, Musk’s broader empire continues to expand. SpaceX holds multiple government contracts, including agreements with NASA and the Department of War, and reports have suggested the company is weighing a potential initial public offering.
Musk has previously floated the possibility of going public as early as mid-June, with ambitions to raise up to $50 billion at a valuation reportedly reaching $1.5 billion, according to the Financial Times.
As SpaceX rockets continue launching — including a recent Falcon 9 liftoff in Florida — the company’s satellite arm, Starlink, has become an increasingly influential player in global connectivity infrastructure.
Rivalry in the Public Eye
The personal and professional tensions between Musk and Altman have intensified in recent months. Their exchanges have ranged from corporate strategy disputes to pointed social media arguments, including a highly publicized clash over whose technologies — Musk’s Tesla Autopilot or Altman’s ChatGPT — have had greater societal consequences.
Despite this acrimony, Microsoft’s latest move suggests that business strategy remains separate from personal feuds. By partnering with Starlink to expand digital access in Kenya, the company is signaling a commitment to pragmatic collaboration — even when its partners and allies may be at odds.
In an increasingly interconnected technology landscape, alliances appear to be guided less by rivalry and more by opportunity, scale, and shared ambition to shape the digital future.
