Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio have partnered with Elon Musk-owned SpaceX to introduce Starlink’s satellite-based internet services in India. Starlink is a low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet constellation designed to deliver high-speed internet, even in the most remote corners of the world.
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Why In News
- Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio have partnered with Elon Musk-owned SpaceX to introduce Starlink’s satellite-based internet services in India. Starlink is a low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet constellation designed to deliver high-speed internet, even in the most remote corners of the world.
What Is Starlink
- Starlink is a satellite internet constellation operated by Starlink Services, a global telecommunications provider owned by SpaceX. While there are other satellite communication providers, Starlink is one of the world’s first and largest satellite constellations using a low Earth orbit (LEO) to deliver broadband internet capable of supporting activities like streaming, online gaming, video calls and more.
About Agreement
- The partnership comes after the two companies clashed over how the country should grant spectrum for satellite services. Reliance had urged an auction but the Indian government sided with Musk, who wanted it to be allocated administratively, in line with global trends.
- Jio Platforms said it has signed a deal with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to bring Starlink’s internet services to India, a day after close rival Bharti Airtel announced a similar deal. Similar to Airtel, this deal is contingent upon SpaceX receiving its own authorisations to sell Starlink in India. Jio Platforms is a subsidiary of Reliance Industries.
- Jio and SpaceX, so far, had been on the opposite side of the debate on how spectrum for satellite communication should be assigned to companies – with Jio calling for an auction, but SpaceX insisting on the administrative route. The government has decided to go with administrative allocation.
- SpaceX has applied for a security clearance with the Indian government, but it is understood that its application is undergoing review at the Home Ministry.
- The agreement, Jio said, enables it and SpaceX to explore how Starlink can extend Jio’s offerings and how it can complement SpaceX’s direct offerings to its consumers and businesses. Jio will make Starlink solutions available through its retail outlets as well as through its online storefronts. “Through this agreement, the parties will leverage Jio’s position as the world’s largest mobile operator in terms of data traffic and Starlink’s position as the world’s leading low Earth orbit satellite constellation operator to deliver reliable broadband services across the country, including the most rural and remote regions of India,” Jio said in a statement.
- Apart from offering Starlink equipment in its retail outlets, Jio will also establish a mechanism to support customer service installation and activation. “Starlink complements JioAirFiber and JioFiber by extending high speed internet to the most challenging of locations in a quick and affordable manner,” Jio said in a statement.
- Jio and SpaceX are also evaluating other complementary areas of cooperation to leverage their respective infrastructure to further enhance India’s digital ecosystem, the company said. “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,” said Mathew Oommen, Group CEO, Reliance Jio.
How does it differ from terrestrial networks
- Terrestrial telecom services rely on: Fibre-optic cables, Digital Subscriber Lines (DSL), Cellular towers These infrastructures are limited to urban and suburban areas, where it is feasible to install physical network infrastructure.
- On the other hand, Starlink operates using LEO satellite technology, which allows it to provide internet access in areas where traditional broadband infrastructure is impractical or uneconomical to deploy—such as remote villages, mountainous regions, and offshore locations.
- Traditionally, internet services via satellite have relied on high-Earth orbit (HEO) or geostationary orbit satellites, positioned over 30,000 km above sea level. In contrast, LEO satellite constellations orbit the Earth at a much lower altitude—typically 200–2,000 km.
- Why is lower orbit better | Lower latency: Signals from geostationary satellites must travel much farther, leading to delays and slower speeds. LEO satellites, being closer to Earth, reduce signal travel time, resulting in faster and more responsive connectivity.
- Better efficiency: The shorter distance means lower signal loss and more reliable communication with lower power requirements and smaller antennas.
How Can Starlink Benefit India
- By partnering with Starlink, Jio and Airtel can extend telecom services to under-served regions in India. This would not only connect rural and remote areas but also provide businesses and enterprises in these locations with reliable internet access—a critical factor for economic development and digital inclusion.
What Are The Drawbacks Of Starlink
- High cost: LEO-based satellite services are expensive to deploy and operate, which could lead to premium pricing and limited data plans for consumers.
- Scalability concerns: Expanding Starlink’s network to accommodate more users without compromising performance remains a challenge.
- Weather interference: Satellite signals require a clear line of sight and can be disrupted by weather conditions like heavy rain or storms.
- Higher latency in urban areas: Compared to terrestrial broadband, Starlink may experience higher latency and lower capacity in densely populated areas, making it less competitive in cities where fibre-optic networks dominate.
