India’s leading telecom companies, Jio Platforms and Bharti Airtel, have signed separate agreements with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to bring Starlink’s broadband internet services to the country.
On March 11, Airtel announced a non-exclusive partnership with SpaceX to explore offering Starlink’s high-speed internet to businesses, rural communities, schools, and health centers. Airtel may also sell Starlink equipment through its retail stores.
A day later, Mukesh Ambani’s Jio Platforms struck a similar deal with Starlink, signaling a growing interest in satellite-based connectivity in India.
Regulatory Hurdles
Starlink is still awaiting regulatory approvals to launch services in India. It must:
- Meet security norms set by the Indian government.
- Obtain a GMPCS (Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite) license.
- Get approval from IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center).
- Receive spectrum allocation from the Indian government.
Once approved, Starlink’s satellite-based services could revolutionize internet connectivity, particularly in rural and remote areas of India.
