Telco giant Airtel announced on Tuesday a partnership with SpaceX to bring Starlink’s high-speed satellite internet services to India. This move comes years after Elon Musk’s company first expressed interest in entering India, which is the world’s second-largest internet market after China.
The deal with Airtel is not a roll-out plan yet. The services are dependent on SpaceX obtaining regulatory clearance from IN-SPACe and the Department of Telecommunications to sell Starlink in the country, as mentioned in the telco’s press statement.
It’s worth noting that SpaceX faced repercussions in the past for starting a service roll-out without proper licensing. In 2022, the company had to refund preorders for equipment after being called out by the government for offering satellite internet services without the necessary licenses.
SpaceX has not yet received the needed approvals for various reasons, including security and privacy concerns, service pricing, and opposition from local competitors. Airtel’s collaboration with SpaceX is seen as a setback for billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s company, Reliance Jio, India’s largest telecom network, which has been trying to block Starlink’s entry in the country while preparing to launch its own satellite internet services.
The financial details of the deal remain undisclosed, but the plans include Airtel retailing Starlink equipment in its stores and offering Starlink services to business customers. SpaceX will also explore ways to enhance Airtel’s network, tapping into the telco’s nationwide ground infrastructure and capabilities.
India, with over 1.4 billion people but only about 950 million internet subscribers, presents a lucrative market for companies offering innovative connectivity solutions. In addition to acquiring full approvals to operate, the Indian government has taken steps to pave the way for Starlink’s launch, such as passing a telecom bill allowing spectrum allocation for satellite services and supporting Starlink in a satellite spectrum auction.
Airtel is also collaborating with Eutelsat OneWeb, further diversifying its connectivity options. Gopal Vittal, managing director and vice chairman of Bharti Airtel, expressed excitement about the partnership, highlighting how Starlink can improve broadband access for Indians. Gwynne Shotwell, president and COO of SpaceX, shared her enthusiasm for the collaboration, emphasizing the positive impact Starlink can have on the people of India.
