Can Musk hype, Airtel-Jio boost Starlink services?

The back-to-back marketing agreements signed by US-based Starlink with Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio has finally paved the way for launch of the Elon-Musk-owned satellite internet provider's services after an initial attempt four years ago.

- Shouvik Das & Nehal Chaliawala

Yet, the question experts are asking is whether it will at all ring a bell with rural folk in remote areas, which are its target audience, and that too at a price way higher than current wireless services. Even so, some experts are of the view that the sheer visibility of brand Starlink and its icon Musk may provide an early booster dose to a service that may not find many takers right away.

On Tuesday, Sunil Bharti Mittal-backed Bharti Airtel announced a partnership to offer Starlink's satellite internet service to consumers across India, even as its existing joint venture with Eutelsat OneWeb will be used to offer satellite internet to businesses.

The day after, Mukesh Ambani-backed Jio Platforms Limited announced the same partnership with Starlink—to satellite internet service to customers, once the latter receives its operating licence from the ministry of communications. In a press statement, the company added that Reliance Jio's websites and retail outlets will sell Starlink's 'terminals'—the equivalent of a dish receiver in satellite television services—as well as offer customer service on Starlink's behalf.