Musk’s Starlink to launch in India through Airtel
Airtel partners with SpaceX to launch Starlink in India, pending regulatory approval.
Bharti Airtel, India's telecom giant, has formed a strategic partnership with Elon Musk's SpaceX to introduce Starlink, its satellite internet service, into the Indian market. The effort, anticipated to tap into the world’s second-largest internet consumption market, hinges on regulatory approvals, specifically from IN-SPACe and the Department of Telecommunications. SpaceX's prior attempt to roll out the service in India stumbled when it faced government pushback for licensing issues, forcing the company to refund preorders made in 2022. Addressing these previous setbacks, the current plan reflects a more strategic and measured path to execution.
The partnership between Airtel and SpaceX brings complexity to India’s telecom landscape, especially challenging Reliance Jio, led by billionaire Mukesh Ambani. Reliance Jio, which holds the title of India's leading telecom provider, has been vigilant against Starlink entering the market while it prepares its own satellite internet initiatives. This new collaboration indicates SpaceX's intent to ingratiate itself into the Indian market's framework by aligning itself with established telecom leaders like Airtel, potentially staving off new competition on the horizon.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump signed a recent India-U.S. partnership, emphasizing closer collaborations, aligning with Musk's backing from the current U.S. administration. Analysts speculate this may favorably influence regulatory consent for Starlink. While financial specifics remain undisclosed, the plan would see Airtel utilizing its established retail networks to distribute Starlink equipment and services tailored for business clientele.
Moreover, SpaceX and Airtel plan to leverage each other's assets to extend connectivity in India. Airtel's comprehensive ground network infrastructure and facilities offer crucial support to SpaceX's endeavors. In tandem, the partnership could facilitate expanded and enhanced connectivity across India, addressing its burgeoning digital needs with a diverse approach to broadband solutions.
Airtel's additional partnership with Eutelsat OneWeb, a pioneer in global satellite broadband, further amplifies its future-proofing strategy. Although SpaceX's entry hinges on full regulatory sanctioning to commence operations, recent legislative moves by the Indian government, like the telecom bill allowing spectrum allocation for satellite services, set the stage for accelerating satellite connectivity solutions.
Sources: WSJ, Times of India, TechCrunch, The Verge, India Today