Jio and Airtel have signed separate agreements with Elon Musk's Starlink to bring satellite internet to India. The partnerships aim to provide high-speed broadband to remote and underserved areas. Starlink's service rollout depends on government approval. The deals could improve connectivity for education, healthcare, and businesses in regions lacking fibre-optic infrastructure. Starlink uses a constellation of 6,900 satellites for global broadband coverage.
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00:00little about the deal that Jio and Starlink have signed at this point in time. Jio signs a pact
00:05with Elon Musk's Starlink after rival Airtel and Jio's Taya. Starlink satellite internet for India
00:13next. Starlink awaits government not for India operations is what we know at this point in time.
00:20I'm going to go straight across to Chetan Bhutani for more details. Chetan take us
00:24through the contours of that deal. What does this mean for broadband services in India?
00:30The collaboration between Jio and SpaceX, Starlink will bring high-speed satellite
00:34internet to even the most remote and undeserved areas of the country. Rural and remote areas
00:40which lack fiber optic infrastructure will get high-speed internet via Starlink satellite-based
00:45networks. This is crucial for education, healthcare and small businesses in regions
00:50with limited connectivity. Jio already offers JioFiber, the wired broadband facility,
00:55and JioAirFiber, the wireless broadband. Starlink complements these services by ensuring connectivity
01:00in areas where even Jio's 5G and fiber networks can't reach. More businesses, startups and
01:05freelancers will be able to operate online, improving economic opportunities. Starlink's
01:10direct-to-consumer model could have made its services expensive for individual users in India,
01:15whereas Jio and Airtel's partnership now will make it affordable pricing and better distribution
01:21via Jio's retail network, making Starlink more accessible. However, SpaceX still needs
01:27authorization from the Indian government to operate Starlink commercially, and it of course
01:30has to be seen how Starlink will be affordable for rural users under the Jio's distribution model.
01:37Right, I'm going to thank you for the moment, Chetan Bhutani getting us up to speed with those
01:40details as far as that fact is concerned. Starlink's satellite internet in India soon.
01:46Airtel has signed an agreement with SpaceX to bring Starlink's satellite internet to India,
01:51so faster broadband services is what one can expect. The deal in fact depends on SpaceX
01:56getting approval from authorities to sell rather Starlink services in the country.
02:01Apart from that, the Airtel, in fact the company that has signed this deal
02:06with SpaceX, may sell Starlink equipment in its stores and offer Starlink services to businesses.
02:12They also plan to use Starlink to bring the internet to rural schools, use it in healthcare
02:17centers and remote areas. Starlink uses a constellation of 6,900 satellites to deliver
02:24high-speed internet. It targets remote and undeserved areas, aiming to provide global
02:31broadband coverage. Starlink rollout in India comes after delays due to opposition from telecom
02:37giants like Jio, regulatory challenges and security concerns over foreign broadband services.