Amid 5G rollout, Vodafone Idea caught in satnet FOMO

Telco weighs satellite internet options, even as rivals Jio, Airtel push ahead with partnerships

- Ayaan Kartik

Vodafone Idea Ltd is discussing ways to catch up with larger rivals Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel Ltd in the Indian satellite internet race, even as it is set to roll out its 5G cellular broadband network.

Jio and Airtel recently announced partnerships with US-based Starlink Services to roll out Elon Musk's satellite internet service in India, although they have to wait for government approvals.

Vodafone Idea, India's third-largest telecom service provider, may look to offer services enabled by satellite internet like high-speed internet in remote areas where fiber cables needed for fixed-line broadband are not yet available, said chief technology officer Jagbir Singh. "There are some internal discussions ongoing (on launching satellite internet services)," Singh told Mint in an interview. "There are open questions like the cost of the devices and regulatory approvals on using satellite for terrestrial connectivity."