After Airtel announced y that it was signing a deal with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to bring Starlink to India, Reliance Jio made a similar announcement early on Wednesday morning. Airtel and Jio are teaming up with SpaceX to bring Starlink’s satellite internet to India, which will allow them to provide their services in the most remote areas of the country. Notably, the deal for both Airtel and Jio depends on SpaceX getting the required approvals to sell Starlink in India. If that happens, Jio and Airtel will offer Starlink services and equipment through its stores and online platforms. But, when will the rollout happen? How are Jio and Airtel planning to offer Starlink services? Here everything is explained.
Airtel and Jio partner with SpaceX
Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio have signed agreements with SpaceX to bring Starlink satellite internet services to India. Both deals hinge on SpaceX receiving the necessary regulatory approvals from the Indian government to operate Starlink commercially. The deal with the two top network providers in India marks a significant step towards expanding high-speed broadband coverage in the country, particularly in remote and underserved areas.
Airtel’s strategy for integrating Starlink
Airtel has announced that it will explore ways to collaborate with SpaceX, potentially selling Starlink hardware in its stores and offering its services to businesses. Airtel also plans to leverage Starlink’s capabilities to connect rural schools, healthcare centres, and remote regions where traditional internet infrastructure is limited. Airtel also intends to integrate Starlink into its existing network and explore how SpaceX can use Airtel’s telecom infrastructure in India.
Jio’s plan to offer Starlink services
Reliance Jio has also partnered with SpaceX to offer Starlink services through its retail stores and online platforms once regulatory approvals are secured. Jio aims to integrate Starlink into its broadband portfolio, which currently includes JioFiber and JioAirFiber. The partnership will help Jio strengthen its internet services, particularly in areas where traditional broadband is challenging to deploy. Additionally, Jio will be responsible for the installation, activation, and customer support for Starlink users in India.
Impact on India’s digital infrastructure
The partnerships with Airtel and Jio signal growing competition in the satellite broadband sector in India. Both companies aim to expand high-speed internet access to previously unreachable locations. Airtel already collaborates with Eutelsat OneWeb for satellite internet services, and adding Starlink to its portfolio will further improve its internet coverage. Jio, which handles the highest mobile data traffic in India, will be able to make use of the Starlink deal to improve broadband reliability and accessibility.