Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance Jio Platforms Limited (JPL) has announced an agreement with Elon Musk‘s SpaceX to offer Starlink’s high-speed broadband internet services to its customers in India. This agreement is subject to SpaceX receiving the necessary authorisations to sell Starlink in the country.
Reliance Jio, Starlink partnership: What the CEO said
“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 of Reliance Jio. “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.”
How will Reliance Jio use Starlink solutions
Reliance Jio will integrate Starlink solutions into its retail outlets and online storefronts, ensuring that customers have easy access to Starlink equipment. Additionally, Jio will establish a mechanism to support customer service, installation, and activation. This move complements Jio’s existing broadband services, such as JioAirFiber and JioFiber, by extending high-speed internet to challenging locations quickly and affordably.
“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.”
Reliance Jio and SpaceX are also evaluating other complementary areas of cooperation to leverage their respective infrastructures and further enhance India’s digital ecosystem.
Airtel also partnered with Elon Musk’s Starlink
Recently, Airtel also announced its partnership with SpaceX to bring Starlink’s high-speed internet services to its customers in India. The deal enables Airtel and SpaceX to further explore how Starlink can complement and expand Airtel’s offerings, and how Airtel’s expertise in the Indian market complements SpaceX’s direct offerings to consumers and businesses.
According to a press statement from Airtel, Airtel and SpaceX will explore offering Starlink equipment in Airtel’s retail stores, Starlink services via Airtel to business customers, opportunities to connect communities, schools, and health centers, among many others, in even the most rural parts of India. Airtel and SpaceX will also explore how Starlink could help expand and enhance the Airtel network, as well as SpaceX’s ability to utilize and benefit from Airtel’s ground network infrastructure and other capabilities in India.