Bharti Airtel to beam Starlink into India

Sunil Mittal-led telecom major Bharti Airtel on Tuesday announced a partnership with Elon Musk's SpaceX to offer Starlink's high-speed satellite internet services to Airtel customers in India.

- SUBHAYAN CHAKRABORTY

The deal, which is subject to regulatory approval for Starlink's operations in the country, sets the stage for intensified competition with Mukesh Ambani-owned Jio Space Technology Ltd.

Under the deal, Airtel will provide Starlink equipment through its retail stores and offer Starlink services to business customers.

Both companies will also explore opportunities to connect underserved communities, schools, and health care centres in India's rural areas, Airtel said in a statement.

"Airtel and SpaceX will also explore how Starlink could help expand and enhance the Airtel network, as well as SpaceX's ability to utilise and benefit from Airtel's ground network infrastructure and other capabilities in India," the company said.

Starlink currently provides satellite communication services in over 100 countries through a constellation of more than 7,000 Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites operated by SpaceX, the US-based space technology company owned by Elon Musk.

"This is a purely business decision to market Starlink products.