India's telecom giants, Jio Platforms and Bharti Airtel, announced separate partnerships with Elon Musk's SpaceX on Wednesday to offer Starlink satellite broadband services in the country, marking a significant push into its lucrative but tightly regulated internet market.
The deals, both pending regulatory approvals, will allow Jio and Airtel to sell Starlink equipment through their distribution channels while assisting with customer service, installation, and activation.
Jio also plans to expand Starlink's services to enterprise clients and explore additional areas of cooperation with SpaceX, the company said.
"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," said Mathew Oomen, Group CEO of Reliance Jio.
SpaceX's Starlink had previously attempted to enter the Indian market in 2022 but was forced to refund pre-orders after the Indian government flagged its services for accepting payments before obtaining necessary approvals.
The current agreements with Jio and Airtel indicate a renewed push, though SpaceX still requires regulatory clearances from the Department of Telecommunications and IN-SPACe.
The development follows ongoing discussions between Musk and Indian authorities regarding his broader business interests in the country. Musk had planned to visit India in 2023 to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi but deferred the trip, citing scheduling conflicts.
The billionaire has expressed interest in expanding Tesla’s presence in India and bringing Starlink to rural and underserved areas, aligning with the Indian government’s digital expansion initiatives.
Image Source: Unsplash
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