Airtel Partners Elon Musk’s SpaceX To Bring Starlink’s High-Speed Internet to India: Details | Image:
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Airtel in an agreement with SpaceX on Tuesday announced to bring Starlink’s high-speed internet services to its customers in India.
According to a stock exchange filing, this is the first agreement to be signed in India, which is subject to SpaceX receiving its own authorizations to sell Starlink in India.
Consequentially, Airtel and SpaceX can further explore how Starlink can complement and expand Airtel’s offerings, and how Airtel’s expertise in the Indian market complements SpaceX’s direct offerings to businesses and consumers, Airtel said in a statement.
What Will This Partnership Amount To?
The two companies 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, even in the most remote and rural parts of India.
“Airtel and SpaceX will also explore how Starlink could help expand and enhance the Airtel network, as well as SpaceX’s ability to utilize and benefit from Airtel’s ground network infrastructure and other capabilities in India,” it added.
By adding Starlink to its offerings, Airtel will further its ability to offer nationwide connectivity and connect previously underserved areas, particularly those with limited to no coverage today.
“Working with SpaceX to offer Starlink to Airtel customers in India is a significant milestone and further demonstrates our commitment to next-generation satellite connectivity,” said Gopal Vittal, Managing Director and Vice Chairman, Bharti Airtel Ltd.
“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,” said Gwynne Shotwell, President and Chief Operating Officer of SpaceX.
Background
While Starlink is a firm that delivers high-speed internet to users all over the world and a subsidiary of SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk, Airtel is a global communications solution provider with more than 550 million customers in 15 countries across India and Africa.
Airtel has already partnered with Eutelsat OneWeb for satellite broadband and the addition of Starlink to its portfolio is going to increase its coverage to regions with little to no coverage.
PM Modi Strengthens Ties With Elon Musk
This partnership comes weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the billionaire and founder of SpaceX Elon Musk, who also chairs the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under the Donald Trump administration, during his visit.
The Indian foreign ministry later clarified that this meeting was held to strengthen collaboration “between Indian and US entities in innovation, space exploration, artificial intelligence, and sustainable development.”
This move has finally come to fruition after many months of Elon Musk’s aspiration of bringing Starlink to India, but regulatory challenges and opposition from domestic telecom giants such as Reliance Jio had slowed progress.
In November 2024, Jyotiraditya Scindia, the Indian telecom minister had stated that Starlink had yet to comply with security regulations, delaying its satellite communications license.
Additionally, Musk had previously slammed the Indian policy of auctioning spectrum for satellite services, leading to a policy shift toward direct spectrum allocation.
