Musk’s Starlink Set to Debut in India Via Airtel

Airtel announced on Tuesday a partnership with SpaceX to bring Starlink’s high-speed satellite internet to India, years after Elon Musk’s company first attempted to enter the world’s second-largest internet market.

However, this is not a confirmed rollout. The launch depends on regulatory approval from IN-SPACe and the Department of Telecommunications, Airtel clarified in its statement.

This requirement is significant, as SpaceX previously faced regulatory pushback for accepting preorders in 2022 before obtaining the necessary licenses, ultimately leading to refunds. The company is still awaiting approvals due to concerns over security, privacy, pricing, and resistance from local competitors.

Airtel-SpaceX Deal Challenges Reliance Jio’s Satellite Ambitions

Airtel’s partnership with SpaceX deals a setback to billionaire Mukesh Ambani and Reliance Jio, India’s largest telecom provider, which has been working to block Starlink’s entry while preparing to launch its own satellite internet services.

SpaceX now appears to be taking a more strategic approach. This move follows a recent agreement between India and the U.S., in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former President Donald Trump pledged closer cooperation. Given Musk’s strong ties to the current U.S. administration, it remains to be seen whether this will help accelerate regulatory approvals.

While financial details of the deal were not disclosed, Airtel plans to sell Starlink equipment through its retail stores and offer its services to business clients. SpaceX will also collaborate with Airtel to expand and strengthen its network, leveraging Airtel’s nationwide ground infrastructure.

India’s Growing Market and Evolving Regulations Favor Starlink’s Entry

With over 1.4 billion people but only about 950 million internet users, India presents a significant opportunity for alternative connectivity solutions. Regulatory developments may further pave the way for Starlink’s launch. In late 2023, India passed a telecom bill allowing spectrum allocation for satellite services, and in 2024, the Modi government backed Starlink in a satellite spectrum auction.

Notably, Airtel is also partnering with Eutelsat OneWeb, whose subsidiary OneWeb India secured approval for satellite broadband services in late 2023.

“Starlink will complement and enhance Airtel’s suite of products to ensure reliable and affordable broadband for our Indian customers—wherever they live and work,” said Gopal Vittal, managing director and vice chairman of Bharti Airtel.

“We are excited to work with Airtel and unlock the transformative impact Starlink can bring to the people of India. We are constantly amazed by the incredible and inspiring things that people, businesses, and organizations do when they are connected via Starlink,” added Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX’s president and COO.

Read the original article on: TechCrunch

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