Jio Platforms, the digital arm of Reliance Industries and India’s top telecom operator, has announced a groundbreaking partnership with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to bring Starlink’s satellite broadband services to India. This move comes just hours after Airtel, India’s second-largest telecom provider, revealed a similar collaboration with SpaceX.
Expanding India’s Digital Reach with Starlink
Under the agreement—pending regulatory approvals—Jio and SpaceX will explore integrating Starlink into Jio’s broadband offerings. Jio will also leverage its vast retail network and online platforms to sell Starlink equipment, making satellite internet more accessible to Indian consumers. Additionally, Jio will establish a customer support and installation framework to streamline Starlink’s adoption across the country.
Mathew Oomen, Group CEO of Reliance Jio, emphasized the impact of this collaboration:
“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.”
Jio vs. Airtel: The Satellite Broadband Race
Airtel’s partnership with SpaceX, also subject to regulatory clearances, aims to introduce Starlink to enterprise and retail customers. Meanwhile, Jio is taking a broader approach by evaluating “other complementary areas of cooperation” with SpaceX to strengthen digital connectivity across India.
Interestingly, both Jio and Airtel have previously opposed the Indian government’s decision to ease Starlink’s entry through administrative approvals rather than a traditional spectrum auction. Yet, with these new deals in place, the telecom giants appear to be aligning with SpaceX to push satellite broadband forward.
SpaceX’s Return to the Indian Market
This isn’t SpaceX’s first attempt to enter the Indian market. In 2022, the Indian government forced Starlink to halt preorders and issue refunds to early adopters due to regulatory issues. Now, with Jio and Airtel backing the initiative, Starlink is poised for a major comeback.
Jio’s Dual Approach: Starlink + JioSpaceFiber
While collaborating with SpaceX, Jio is simultaneously developing its own satellite broadband service, JioSpaceFiber, in partnership with SES. The company has already conducted successful tests in select Indian districts and received regulatory approval from IN-SPACe.
A New Era of Connectivity for India
The competition between Jio, Airtel, and Starlink is set to revolutionize India’s internet landscape, bringing high-speed connectivity to rural and underserved areas. With both telecom giants actively working to deploy satellite broadband, India is on the brink of a new era of digital expansion.
