⛄A day after Airtel announced its partnership with Elon Musk's SpaceX, Reliance Group's Jio has also teamed up with the tech mogul to bring Starlink services in India. With this agreement, Elon Musk's Starlink will be able to provide broadband services to customers in India.
𝓡Based on the statements issued by both telecom companies, the agreement is subject to SpaceX receiving authorisation to sell Starlink in India.
Airtel's Partnership With Starlink
🅰"Airtel and SpaceX will explore offering Starlink equipment in Airtel’s retail stores, Starlink services via Airtel to business customers, opportunities to connect communities, schools, and health centers, among many others, in even the most rural parts of India,” reads the official statement issued by Bharti Airtel.
ꦓAs per Gopal Vittal, the MD and Vice Chairman of Airtel, Starlink services will be offered to Airtel customers in India as the company works towards establishing "next-generation satellite connectivity."
Jio's Partnership With Starlink
꧅Jio's partnership with Starlink is based on similar agreements made by rival Bharti Airtel.
𝐆"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," Mathew Oommen, the Group CEO of Reliance Jio, said.
𓆉The statement further added that Starlink solutions will be offered at Jio's retail outlets as well as online storefronts.
What Does Starlink Mean For India?
🍷Starlink is a satellite internet constellation under Musk's SpaceX. This satellite operates a network of low Earth orbit satellites with the aim to bring high speed internet with low latency.
𝓡If Starlink launches in India, its plans would be slightly on the expensive side due to 30 percent higher taxation on foreign digital services.
𝔉In Starlink India Country Director, Sanjay Bhargava stated that the Starlink could cost Rs 1,58,000 for the first year, and drop to Rs 1,15,000 from the second year onwards.
🐟With the partnership with Airtel and Jio, the plan is to try and bring internet and high speed broadband to the most remote parts of India.
ღAs per reports, Starlink's satellite-based system can help bridge the gap and bring high speed interest to remote villages and other areas. In India, out of 6,44,131 villages, around 6,15,836 have 4G mobile connectivity.
