Jio partners with SpaceX for Starlink internet services in India
What's the story
Reliance Jio has announced a partnership with Elon Musk's SpaceX to bring Starlink's high-speed satellite internet services to India.
The deal, which follows a similar agreement between Bharti Airtel and SpaceX, is subject to regulatory approval from Indian authorities.
Once approved, Jio plans to offer Starlink solutions through its retail outlets and online platforms.
Partnership goals
Objective of the Jio-Starlink collaboration
The partnership seeks to capitalize on Jio's position as the world's largest mobile operator by data traffic and Starlink's position as the leading operator of a low Earth orbit satellite constellation.
They intend to offer reliable broadband services across India, including rural and remote regions.
Mathew Oommen, Group CEO of Reliance Jio, said this collaboration is a transformative step toward seamless broadband connectivity for all Indians.
Accessibility focus
Jio's commitment to affordable high-speed broadband
Oommen stressed that Jio's number one priority is to ensure that every Indian gets access to affordable and high-speed broadband. He added that the partnership with SpaceX bolsters their commitment to the same.
Gwynne Shotwell, President and COO of SpaceX, said they were looking forward to working with Jio and receiving authorization from the Indian government to offer Starlink's high-speed internet services.
Approval challenges
Regulatory hurdles for Starlink's launch in India
The launch of Starlink in India depends on regulatory approvals from the Indian space regulator, IN-SPACe, and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).
These bodies are yet to give the green light to SpaceX to start operations.
Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio's joint venture with SES, however, have already secured GMPCS licenses and IN-SPACe approvals.