After Airtel, Musk’s Starlink and Ambani’s Jio Strike a Game-Changing Internet Deal for India

Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Jio has announced a partnership with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to introduce Starlink satellite internet services in India. This unexpected collaboration comes after months of disagreement between the two billionaires regarding the country’s approach to spectrum allocation.

This deal closely follows another Starlink agreement with Bharti Airtel, India’s second-largest telecom company, which was announced just a day earlier. However, both partnerships are subject to regulatory approval before Starlink can officially begin operations in India.

These developments come weeks after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Elon Musk in Washington, where they discussed key topics such as space, mobility, technology, and innovation.

Jio’s Role in Starlink’s Expansion

As part of the agreement unveiled on Wednesday, Jio Platforms, India’s top telecom provider, will distribute Starlink equipment through its retail stores and online platforms. Additionally, Jio will offer installation support to customers purchasing the service.

“Jio and SpaceX are also evaluating other complementary areas of cooperation to leverage their respective infrastructure,” Reliance mentioned in a statement, though no further details were provided.

The Competitive Landscape

Jio Platforms, which has already formed a satellite internet joint venture with Luxembourg-based SES, has received approval from India’s space regulatory body to roll out commercial satellite broadband services in the country.

Meanwhile, Starlink’s application is still under review. Throughout this process, Reliance Jio and SpaceX have taken opposing stances on how India should allocate spectrum for satellite services.

While Reliance pushed for a spectrum auction, the Indian government sided with Musk, who advocated for an administrative allocation in alignment with global best practices.

Mukesh Ambani had urged New Delhi to ensure a level playing field in the telecom sector. His executives have expressed concerns that Jio, which invested $19 billion in airwave auctions, may lose broadband customers to Starlink. With technological advancements, the fear extends to losing data and voice clients as well.