In a game-changing move for India’s telecom sector, Reliance Jio has partnered with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to introduce Starlink’s satellite internet services in the country. This collaboration comes shortly after Bharti Airtel, India’s second-largest telecom provider, struck a similar deal with Starlink.
Under this agreement, Jio will offer Starlink equipment through retail stores and online platforms while also providing installation support. The primary goal of this partnership is to bridge the digital divide by delivering high-speed internet to remote and underserved regions of India using Starlink’s advanced low-Earth orbit satellite technology.
However, both Jio and Airtel’s agreements with Starlink are awaiting government approvals before launching operations. This development follows discussions between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Elon Musk during Modi’s U.S. visit, signaling a growing interest in fostering technological collaborations between India and SpaceX.
Interestingly, Reliance and SpaceX previously clashed over spectrum allocation for satellite internet services. While Reliance pushed for spectrum auctions, SpaceX favored administrative allocation, in line with global standards. The Indian government ultimately decided to allocate satellite spectrum without auctions, a move seen as a boost to foreign investments, particularly for companies like SpaceX.
With Starlink’s entry into the Indian market, competition in the satellite broadband sector is set to heat up, potentially leading to more affordable and widely available internet access across the country.
