Revolutionising India's digital landscape, the Reliance Group's digital services company Jio Platforms Ltd too has signed a pact with SpaceX to offer Starlink's broadband internet services to its customers in India, the company said on Wednesday.
The agreement is subject to SpaceX receiving authorisation to sell Starlink in India. The development came a day after Jio's rival Bharti Airtel signed a similar pact with SpaceX.
"Our collaboration with SpaceX to bring Starlink to India strengthens our commitment and marks a transformative step toward seamless broadband connectivity for all.
"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," Mathew Oommen, the Group CEO of Reliance Jio, said.
The pact aims to blend Jio’s unparalleled reach as the world’s largest mobile data operator with Starlink’s cutting-edge low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite network, promising to deliver high-speed, reliable broadband even to India’s most remote corners.
Under the agreement, Jio will serve as a key distributor for Starlink’s offerings, making satellite internet equipment and services available through its vast network of retail outlets and online platforms. Beyond sales, Jio will also handle customer support, installation, and activation, ensuring a seamless experience for users tapping into Starlink’s constellation of over 6,000 satellites. The collaboration is poised to complement Jio’s existing high-speed internet services, JioAirFiber and JioFiber, by extending coverage to even cable-dark terrains and rural areas where traditional infrastructure has struggled to penetrate.
This alliance also hints at broader ambitions. Jio and SpaceX are exploring additional avenues to leverage their respective infrastructures - Jio’s terrestrial networks and SpaceX’s orbital assets - to further enhance India’s digital ecosystem. While specifics remain under wraps, possibilities could include joint innovations in 5G backhaul, disaster response connectivity, or even smart city solutions.
Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX’s President and COO, hailed the collaboration, stating, “We applaud Jio’s commitment to advancing India’s connectivity. We are looking forward to working with Jio and receiving authorization from the Government of India to provide more people, organizations, and businesses with access to Starlink’s high-speed internet services.” The nod to government approval underscores a critical next step, as Starlink’s entry into India has faced regulatory hurdles over spectrum allocation and licensing, issues that Jio’s local expertise could help navigate.
For Jio, this deal marks another bold step in its quest to dominate India’s digital future, building on its disruptive legacy since entering the telecom fray in 2016. For SpaceX, it’s a chance to tap into one of the world’s fastest-growing internet markets. As the two giants await the green light from Indian authorities, the partnership promises to reshape how connectivity reaches the subcontinent’s 1.4 billion people, urban and rural alike (with inputs from PTI).