Musk’s Starlink to get into India via Airtel
The telecommunications giant Airtel announced on Tuesday a partnership with SpaceX to launch internet services by high speed satellite of Starlink in India – years after the company of Elon Musk made its first movements to enter the country, the second largest internet market in the world after China.
Above all, the agreement is not A deployment plan. The services are subject to SpaceX receiving the regulatory authorization for space and the telecommunications department to sell the Star link in the country, said Telco in its press statement (PDF).
This warning is important, because SpaceX has already hit Knuckles once before for starting to start a service before receiving a license: in 2022, the company ended up having Refund of equipment pre -orders After the government called him to “reserve / render the internet service by satellite” before obtaining the necessary licenses.
It is understood that SpaceX has not yet obtained these approvals for several reasons, including security and confidentiality problems, service prices and lobbying local competitors.
Indeed, Airtel’s partnership with SpaceX is a blow for billionaire Mukesh Ambani and its Reliance Jio network, which is the largest telecommunications in the country and has been Seeking to restrict the entrance to Starlink in the country while To launch its satellite internet services in the country.
Now it seems that SpaceX adopts a more methodical approach. Today’s development occurs partnership Signed between India and the United States, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump undertook to work more closely. Given the close involvement of Musk with the current American administration, it will be interesting to see if these approvals finally start to materialize.
The financial conditions of today’s agreement have not been disclosed, but the plans include Airtel selling Starlink equipment in its retail stores, as well as the Starlink services via Airtel to commercial customers.
In addition, SpaceX will explore how to “help develop and improve” the Airtel network, and SpaceX will be able to draw on the national infrastructure of the Airtel land network and other capacities.
With more than 1.4 billion people but only around 950 million Internet subscribersIndia is an enticing market for any business selling a different approach to connectivity.
In addition to complete approvals to manage services, the Indian government has made several movements that could help align the launch of Starlink in the country. At the end of 2023, he adopted a new telecommunications bill This would allow a spectrum allowance for satellite services. In 2024, the Modi government Link starred in its auction by satellite auction.
(Interesting fact, Airtel also hides bets: he also has a link with Eutelsat Oneweb, of which the Oneweb India subsidiary was one of the companies receive approval To launch its large -band services by satellite at the end of 2023.)
“Starlink will complete and improve the suite of Airtel’s products to ensure reliable and affordable high speed for our Indian customers – wherever they live and work,” said Gopal Vittal, Managing Director and Vice -President of Bharti Airtel, in a prepared statement.
“We are delighted to work with Airtel and to unlock the transformer impact that Starlink can bring to the Indian people. We are constantly surprised by incredible and inspiring things that people, companies and organizations make when connected via Starlink, “said Gwynne Shotwell, president and head of the SpaceX.
