Reliance Jio and SpaceX partner for Starlink internet in India after Bharti Airtel signs deal

Jio announces a distribution agreement allowing it to sell SpaceX’s Starlink services in India.
| Photo Credit: Nagara Gopal

A day after Bharti Airtel, Jio Platforms Ltd (JPL), of Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) has announced an agreement with American billionaire Elon Musk’s SpaceX to offer Starlink’s broadband internet services to its customers in India. 

This agreement, which is subject to SpaceX receiving its own authorizations to sell Starlink in India, would enable Jio and SpaceX to explore how Starlink can extend Jio’s offerings and how Jio can complement SpaceX’s direct offerings to consumers and businesses, JPL said in a statement.

Jio will make Starlink solutions available through its retail outlets as well as through its online storefronts.

Jio will not only offer Starlink equipment in its retail outlets but will establish a mechanism to support customer service installation and activation, the company said.

“Starlink complements JioAirFiber and JioFiber by extending high speed internet to the most challenging of locations in a quick and affordable manner, it added.

Jio and SpaceX are also evaluating other complementary areas of cooperation to leverage their respective infrastructure to further enhance India’s digital ecosystem.

“Ensuring that every Indian, no matter where they live, has access to affordable and high-speed broadband remains Jio’s top priority,” said Mathew Oommen, Group CEO, Reliance Jio in a statement.

“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,” he added.

“We applaud Jio’s commitment to advancing India’s connectivity” said Gwynne Shotwell, President and Chief Operating Officer of SpaceX. 

“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,” he added.