Reliance Jio has signed a deal with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to introduce Starlink satellite internet services in India. The agreement comes after months of contention over India’s spectrum allocation policies.
The deal, first reported by Reuters, follows a similar agreement between Starlink and Bharti Airtel, India’s second-largest telecom provider. Both partnerships, however, remain subject to regulatory approval.
Under the arrangement, Indian telecom operators will stock Starlink equipment in retail outlets, creating direct distribution points across thousands of stores. Jio will also assist with the installation and activation of Starlink devices.
Starlink has been awaiting government clearance to operate in India since 2022, facing delays due to national security concerns. Chaitanya Giri, a space expert at the Observer Research Foundation, said the deal with Jio could facilitate regulatory approvals by integrating Starlink into the country’s telecom infrastructure.
According to Deloitte, India’s satellite internet sector is expected to grow at 36% annually and reach $1.9 billion by 2030. The recent agreements signal a push by major telecom players to capitalize on this expanding market.
Reliance Jio and SpaceX are also exploring other areas of cooperation beyond satellite internet, though details have not been disclosed. The move marks a strategic entry for Starlink into India’s telecom landscape, leveraging Jio’s market dominance to expand its footprint.
