Reliance Jio has announced a partnership with SpaceX to introduce Starlink satellite broadband services in India. This collaboration, which is still pending regulatory approval, follows a similar agreement between SpaceX and Airtel.
Jio plans to integrate Starlink’s low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite technology with its existing telecom infrastructure, aiming to expand broadband coverage to remote and underserved regions. Starlink’s high-speed internet will complement Jio’s current offerings, JioFiber and JioAirFiber, ensuring connectivity in areas where traditional fiber networks are impractical. Jio will distribute Starlink hardware through its online and offline stores while providing support for installation and customer service.
“Ensuring that every Indian has access to affordable, high-speed broadband is Jio’s top priority,” said Mathew Oommen, Group CEO of Reliance Jio. “Our collaboration with SpaceX marks a major step toward seamless connectivity for all.”
Regulatory Hurdles and Market Dynamics facing Starlink
Despite this agreement, SpaceX still awaits approval from India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe) to officially launch Starlink in the country. This partnership is notable given Jio’s previous stance favoring auction-based spectrum allocation, which was opposed by SpaceX and other global players like Amazon’s Project Kuiper.
The deal also aligns with broader U.S.-India trade discussions. Former U.S. President Donald Trump has urged India to ease market access for American companies. Notably, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Elon Musk in the U.S., after which Tesla accelerated its India entry plans. Starlink’s rapid expansion in India may be an outcome of this geopolitical shift.
“We applaud Jio’s commitment to expanding connectivity in India,” said Gwynne Shotwell, President and COO of SpaceX. “We look forward to working together and obtaining the necessary approvals to bring Starlink’s high-speed internet to more people and businesses.”
The Indian satellite broadband market is becoming increasingly competitive. Bharti Airtel recently announced a similar deal with SpaceX, and India has already granted satellite broadband licenses to Bharti-backed OneWeb and Jio’s joint venture with SES, Jio Satellite Communications.
