Reliance Jio Partners with SpaceX for Starlink Internet in India
Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Jio has signed an agreement with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to bring Starlink satellite internet services to India. This agreement marks a surprising development after prolonged disputes over spectrum allocation. Reuters reported the news.
Just a day before this deal, India’s second-largest telecom company, Bharti Airtel, also reached an understanding with Starlink. However, both agreements remain subject to government approval in India.
The announcement of this deal follows Elon Musk’s recent meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the United States earlier this month. Jio Platforms stated that they would distribute Starlink equipment through their retail outlets and online stores while also providing installation support.
Earlier, Reliance had launched satellite internet services in India in collaboration with Luxembourg-based SES after receiving approval from the country’s space regulator. However, Starlink’s approval is still under review.
Ambani and Musk had previously clashed over spectrum allocation. While Reliance favored an auction-based system, the Indian government sided with Musk’s stance, which supports administrative allocation of spectrum as is done in many countries worldwide.
