Airtel to bring Starlink to India

BHARTI AIRTEL on Tuesday announced an agreement with Elon Musk-owned SpaceX to bring Starlink's satellite internet services to its users in the country.

- JATIN GROVER

The agreement, which is the first by Starlink to retail its services in India, is subject to the US satcom getting a licence to operate, which is currently under evaluation by the government.

As part of the agreement, Starlink will explore offering its services via Airtel to business customers, schools, health centres and unconnected areas in the country. Airtel will also offer Starlink equipment in its retail stores. The pact is in the nature of a downstream distribution agreement.

The partnership is a coup for Bharti Airtel, and recasts the competitive landscape in India, intensifying the fight for market share with Reliance Jio. However, this arrangement is not exclusive, sources said, adding it is possible SpaceX could also team up with other telcos.

Both telecom operators in India have been at loggerheads with Starlink over spectrum allocation method and licensing rules for satcom operators in the country. The telecom operators fear that companies like Starlink would eat into their market share by targeting the elite retail customers in urban areas and therefore they should be given the spectrum the same way as telecom operators, that is through auction route.