Sun Mar 16 17:27:45 UTC 2025: ## Airtel and Jio Partner with SpaceX’s Starlink to Bring Satellite Internet to India

**New Delhi, March 17, 2025** – Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio, India’s leading telecom giants, have signed distribution agreements with SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service, marking a significant step towards expanding internet access across the country. This move represents a shift from the telecom industry’s initial reluctance to embrace Starlink without prior spectrum auctions.

Starlink, Elon Musk’s low-earth orbit satellite constellation, offers internet speeds comparable to home broadband (around 100 Mbps) in approximately 40 countries. However, latency is higher than traditional wired connections. The service is expected to be particularly beneficial in rural and remote areas lacking terrestrial network coverage.

While Starlink’s effectiveness in urban areas with robust 5G or wired broadband is questionable, its potential to bridge the digital divide in underserved regions is substantial. The service’s cost includes a user terminal (estimated ₹17,000-₹40,000 in India, including import duties) and a monthly subscription fee (potentially similar to the US pricing of $120-$165).

Despite the commercial agreements, Starlink faces significant regulatory hurdles in India. These include obtaining a Global Mobile Personal Communications by Satellite (GMPCS) authorisation, securing security clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs, ensuring operational ground stations compliant with Indian regulations, and potentially navigating the contentious issue of spectrum allocation. While the government has indicated it won’t auction spectrum for Starlink, as it does in other countries, this remains a point of contention, with some legal opinions suggesting an auction is mandatory.

The path forward remains unclear, though speculation suggests that geopolitical factors might expedite the approval process. While Airtel and Jio have confirmed distribution partnerships, no official announcements on regulatory progress have been made. The ultimate success of Starlink in India hinges on overcoming these regulatory challenges.

Read More