Jio Platforms, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries and India’s largest telecom operator, has partnered with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to bring Starlink’s satellite broadband internet services to its customers in India. The announcement came on Wednesday, just hours after Airtel, the country’s second-biggest telco, revealed a similar partnership with SpaceX.

The agreement between Jio and SpaceX is still subject to regulatory approval. Once cleared, Jio will sell Starlink equipment both online and through its retail outlets. The company also plans to support customer service, installation, and activation of Starlink devices, further solidifying its role in the satellite broadband ecosystem.

Jio stated that it aims to offer SpaceX’s high-speed internet services to enterprise customers across the nation. Additionally, both companies are exploring other areas of collaboration to leverage their combined infrastructure in India, the world’s most populous country.

“By integrating Starlink into Jio’s broadband ecosystem, we are expanding our reach and enhancing the reliability and accessibility of high-speed broadband in this AI-driven era, empowering communities and businesses across the country,” said Mathew Oomen, Group CEO of Reliance Jio, in a press release.

This partnership marks another attempt by SpaceX to break into the Indian market, which boasts over 950 million subscribers. In 2022, the company had to refund preorders for Starlink equipment after the Indian government raised concerns about offering satellite internet services without proper approvals.

The timing of this collaboration is also significant, coming just weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s U.S. visit, where he met with Elon Musk and former President Donald Trump. A deal for a global subsea cable project was signed during the meeting, signaling stronger ties between Indian and American tech firms.

Interestingly, Jio is not solely relying on Starlink for its satellite broadband ambitions. The company has been developing its own service, JioSpaceFiber, through a joint venture with SES. Jio tested this service in four districts last year and received its In-SPACe approval. Airtel, on the other hand, has been working on its satellite internet offering through OneWeb.

Despite their ongoing satellite projects, both Jio and Airtel have now partnered with SpaceX for Starlink’s rollout in India. This move comes even after the two telcos previously opposed the government’s plan to ease Starlink’s entry through administrative means rather than the usual spectrum auction process.

As the partnership awaits regulatory approval, SpaceX remains optimistic. “We are looking forward to working with Jio and receiving authorization from the Government of India to provide more people, organizations, and businesses with access to Starlink’s high-speed internet services,” said Gwynne Shotwell, President and COO of SpaceX.

PHOTO: REUTERS

This article was created with AI assistance.