New Delhi, March 13 —Jio Platforms has signed an agreement with Starlink, the satellite internet service owned by Elon Musk, to provide high-speed broadband in India. The announcement on Wednesday came just a day after its competitor, Bharti Airtel, revealed a similar partnership with Starlink’s parent company, SpaceX.
The move follows months of disputes over how spectrum rights should be allocated for satellite services in India. Both Jio and Airtel had previously pushed for spectrum auctions, arguing that an administrative allocation would allow Starlink to acquire airwaves at a lower cost than what telecom operators had paid in past auctions.
Jio’s parent company, Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL), confirmed the agreement, stating, “This agreement is subject to SpaceX receiving its own authorisations to sell Starlink in India.” Under the deal, Jio will distribute Starlink equipment through retail outlets and online stores while assisting customers with installation and activation. Both companies will also explore potential collaborations to enhance their services.
The agreement states: “Through this partnership, Jio and Starlink will leverage Jio’s position as the world’s largest mobile operator in terms of data traffic and Starlink’s low-earth orbit satellite constellation to deliver reliable broadband services across India, including remote and rural regions.”
The development comes weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with Musk in Washington, where they discussed technology, space, and innovation. Modi also met former U.S. President Donald Trump, under whose administration Ambani was a select invitee at the oath-taking ceremony.
To launch services in India, Starlink requires regulatory approvals, including a Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) license, clearance from space regulator IN-SPACe, and spectrum allocation from the Indian government. The company has reportedly agreed to comply with India’s data localization and security requirements, which had previously been a major point of contention.
Currently, Starlink operates over 6,000 low-earth orbit satellites, while Amazon’s Kuiper project is set to launch 3,236 satellites starting in 2025.
In October last year, India had supported Musk’s stance on spectrum allocation, favoring a pre-determined price over auctions. The sudden deals by both Jio and Airtel within 12 hours highlight Musk’s growing influence in both business and political circles.
