Vi Set To Enter Satcom Space Ahead Of Starlink Entry

EVEN as Starlink prepares to start satellite communication services in India, incumbent service providers are tightening their belt to compete with the Elon Musk-led company.

- Rakesh Kumar @ New Delhi

While Airtel and Reliance Jio are already offering satellite communication services, Vodafone Idea (Vi) on Wednesday announced entry into the segment by forging a partnership with US-based satellite communications company AST Space Mobile to extend mobile connectivity to unconnected and underserved regions in the country.

AST SpaceMobile offers space-based cellular technology that enables direct connectivity to standard smartphones without the need for any specialized hardware, software, or updates.