Jio Platforms partners with SpaceX to bring Starlink to India
Reliance Jio has partnered with SpaceX to bring Starlink satellite internet services to India, aiming to provide reliable broadband across the country, particularly in underserved rural areas. This collaboration follows a similar partnership between Starlink and Bharti Airtel. Jio will offer Starlink equipment through its retail outlets and create a specialized support system, marking a significant step towards affordable high-speed internet for all Indians.
In a surprising development following months of disagreement over spectrum allocation in India, Reliance Jio has partnered with Elon Musk's SpaceX to introduce Starlink satellite internet services in the country.
The agreement comes after a similar collaboration was announced between Starlink and Bharti Airtel, India's second-largest telecom operator, just a day earlier.
Indian telecom companies will sell Starlink equipment in their stores, providing Starlink with direct access to numerous distribution points nationwide.
This collaboration unites Jio, the largest mobile operator globally by data traffic, with Starlink, the foremost low Earth orbit satellite constellation operator. The partnership's goal is to provide dependable broadband services throughout India, especially in underserved rural and remote regions.
The deals were finalized a few weeks after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Elon Musk in Washington, where they talked about space, mobility, technology, and innovation.
Deloitte projects that India's satellite service sector will expand by 36% annually, reaching $1.9 billion by 2030.
"The deal creates a business modality for Starlink to make government approvals easier," said Chaitanya Giri, Space Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation.
In addition to providing Starlink equipment via its retail outlets, Jio will create a specialized support system to assist with customer service, installation, and activation.
“Ensuring that every Indian, no matter where they live, has access to affordable and high-speed broadband remains Jio’s top priority," said Mathew Oommen, Group CEO, Reliance Jio. He said, “Our collaboration with SpaceX to bring Starlink to India strengthens our commitment and marks a transformative step toward seamless broadband connectivity for all. By integrating Starlink into Jio’s broadband ecosystem, we are expanding our reach and enhancing the reliability and accessibility of highspeed broadband in this AI-driven era, empowering communities and businesses across the country."
Reliance announced that Jio and SpaceX are exploring additional opportunities for collaboration to utilize their respective infrastructures, though no further details were provided.Since 2022, Starlink has been awaiting licenses to operate commercially in India, but there is still no definitive timeline for a decision. Delays have been attributed to national security concerns.
It is important to mention that Musk has a lot at stake in India, where he recently finalized an agreement to open the first Tesla showroom for selling imported electric cars. However, tariffs exceeding 100% burden the car manufacturer, with Musk frequently lamenting that they are some of the highest globally.