After Airtel, Reliance Jio signs deal with SpaceX to bring Starlink internet to India
In a significant development in the Indian telecommunications industry, Reliance Jio, the country’s largest telecom operator, has signed a deal with SpaceX, the private aerospace manufacturer and space transportation services company founded by Elon Musk, to bring Starlink’s high-speed internet services to India. This comes just a day after Reliance Jio’s rival Bharti Airtel signed a similar deal with SpaceX to bring Starlink’s internet services to India.
Notably, both agreements are subject to Starlink receiving government approval in India, which is a crucial step in the process. The developments follow a meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Elon Musk in the US a few weeks ago, which is believed to have paved the way for these deals.
The agreement between Reliance Jio and SpaceX is a significant coup for both companies, as it will enable Reliance Jio to expand its reach and offer high-speed internet services to a wider audience in India. Starlink’s satellite-based internet services are expected to provide fast and reliable internet connectivity to areas where traditional fiber-based internet services are not available.
Starlink’s technology uses a constellation of low-Earth orbit satellites to provide internet services, which is expected to be much faster and more reliable than traditional satellite internet services. The company has already launched a beta service in the US and Canada, and plans to expand its services to other countries, including India, in the coming years.
The deal is a major win for Reliance Jio, which has been looking to expand its offerings and reach new customers in the Indian market. The company has been investing heavily in its 5G network and has plans to launch its 5G services in India later this year. The partnership with SpaceX is expected to complement Reliance Jio’s 5G services and provide customers with a wider range of options for accessing high-speed internet services.
For SpaceX, the deal is a significant milestone in its plans to expand its Starlink services to new markets around the world. The company has been investing heavily in its Starlink program, which is expected to provide internet services to millions of people around the world. The partnership with Reliance Jio is expected to be a major step forward in this effort, as it will enable SpaceX to reach a large and growing market in India.
The deal is also significant for the Indian government, which has been looking to promote digital inclusion and provide high-speed internet services to all citizens of the country. The partnership between Reliance Jio and SpaceX is expected to help the government achieve its goals, as it will provide customers with access to fast and reliable internet services, regardless of their location.
In conclusion, the deal between Reliance Jio and SpaceX is a significant development in the Indian telecommunications industry, and is expected to have a major impact on the country’s digital landscape. The partnership will enable Reliance Jio to expand its offerings and reach new customers, while also providing customers with access to fast and reliable internet services. As the partnership moves forward, it will be interesting to see how it develops and what impact it has on the Indian telecommunications industry.
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