Jio to bring SpaceX's Starlink high-Speed internet to its customers

New Delhi: Day after Bharti Airtel’s announcement of partnership with Elon Musk’s-owned SpaceX, its close rival — billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Jio platforms on Wednesday also signed a deal with SpaceX to provide Starlink’s high-speed Internet services to its customers in India, including in rural belts in the country. It is, however, learnt that the surprise move of the aerospace company led by Musk will not only bring Starlink’s broadband internet services to India, but also expect Musk’s venture should be granted spectrum rights.

The deal is subject to SpaceX gaining approval from Indian authorities to sell Starlink in the country. SpaceX has applied for a security clearance with the Indian government, but it is understood that its application is undergoing review at the home ministry. With back-to-back signing of the pacts with two major telecom operators in India, it is, however, believed that security issues related to Starlink license will be resolved very soon. Starlink can help Bharti and Jio provide connectivity to previously underserved areas, especially areas currently with limited to no coverage.

As Musk is considered to be the close aide of US President Donald Trump, the deals by both Airtel and Jio come weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Musk in Washington to discuss issues, including space, mobility, technology and innovation. Over the past few months, Jio and SpaceX had been on the opposite side of the debate on how spectrum for satellite communication should be assigned to companies – with Jio calling for an auction, but SpaceX insisting on the administrative route. The government has decided to go with administrative allocation.

However, the statement issued by Reliance-owned Jio Platforms (JPL) said that through this agreement, the parties will leverage Jio’s position as the world’s largest mobile operator in terms of data traffic and Starlink's position as the world’s leading low earth orbit satellite constellation operator to deliver reliable broadband services across the country, including the most rural and remote regions of India. Starlink is the world's largest low-earth-orbit (LEO) constellation operated by SpaceX. “Jio will make Starlink solutions available through its retail outlets as well as through its online storefronts,” the company said.

Apart from offering Starlink equipment in its retail outlets, Jio will also establish a mechanism to support customer service installation and activation. “Starlink complements JioAirFiber and JioFiber by extending high speed Internet to the most challenging of locations in a quick and affordable manner,” Jio said, adding that Jio and SpaceX are also evaluating other complementary areas of cooperation to leverage their respective infrastructure to further enhance India’s digital ecosystem.

“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,” said Mathew Oommen, Group CEO, Reliance Jio.

“We are looking forward to working with Jio and receiving authorisation from the Government of India to provide more people, organisations and businesses with access to Starlink’s high speed Internet services,” said Gwynne Shotwell, president and chief operating officer of SpaceX.