Jio to provide Starlink satellite internet in India under new deal with SpaceX

Mukesh Ambani’s Jio has signed a deal with Elon Musk’s SpaceX, paving the way for Jio customers in the country to access Starlink’s satellite internet services.

The announcement, made on Wednesday, March 12, comes just a day after SpaceX struck a similar agreement with Jio’s main competitor, Airtel.

The deal marks the end of months of tension between Musk’s SpaceX and Ambani’s Jio over satellite bandwidth issues. 

Despite earlier debates surrounding Starlink’s high service costs and satellite frequency allocation, both Jio and SpaceX have now moved forward to launch the service in India, with a focus on rapidly expanding the customer base.

Under this new partnership, Jio will sell the necessary equipment for Starlink services at its retail stores. 

Additionally, Jio will take charge of customer service, handling the installation and activation process for users.

In the statement, the two companies highlighted the significance of their collaboration, noting, "Leveraging Jio’s position as the world’s largest mobile operator in terms of data traffic, both parties will provide reliable broadband services across the country, including in India’s most remote and rural areas."

The deal will officially kick off once SpaceX gets approval to offer Starlink services in India. 

Reports last month revealed that India’s regulatory body is close to granting Starlink the necessary licenses to operate.

Jio is also working separately on providing satellite broadband through another initiative. 

In 2022, it announced a joint venture with Luxembourg-based SES, which will combine satellite and ground station technology to provide broadband services. 

However, it remains unclear when that service will launch.

In addition to his work with Jio and SpaceX, Elon Musk met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Washington last month. 

Musk, who currently has no business dealings in India aside from his social media platform X, is also set to bring Tesla, the world’s largest electric car manufacturer, to the country soon. 

Tesla began recruiting employees in India last month, advertising positions for store managers and service technicians in New Delhi and Mumbai.

The announcement of this partnership between Jio and SpaceX comes at a crucial time for India’s growing demand for reliable internet services in remote regions, setting the stage for a new era of broadband connectivity.