Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel Partner with SpaceX to Bring Starlink Internet to India

The time has finally come; both Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel announced that their networks would partner with Elon Musk's SpaceX company to provide Starlink satellite internet services within India. The aim is to create internet access even in the remotest and least-served areas of India and thus mark such a momentous step on the level of digital infrastructure in India.

Reliance Jio's Partnership with Starlink

Reliance Jio announced on March 12, 2025, that it has entered into an agreement with SpaceX for Starlink high-speed broadband services across India. This agreement, however, depends on regulatory approvals that are required for SpaceX to be able to operate within the country. Generally, Starlink equipment will be sold via Jio's retail chain and online, along with all the installation support needed for a seamless customer experience. This will be supplemental to Jio's other broadband service offerings, which include JioAirFiber and Jio Fiber, by bringing high-speed internet to hard-to-reach places in a very efficient manner. 

At the same this digital inclusion establishment by a blossoming company like Reliance Jio, Mathew Oommen, Group CEO of Reliance Jio said, "Making sure that every Indian, no matter where they live, has access to affordable and high-speed broadband remains Jio's top priority".

Bharti Airtel's Pact with Starlink

Similarly, Bharti Airtel announced this partnership for the satellite Internet service of SpaceX for South Africa, again, with regulatory approvals required. The contract will work in a country in bringing digital inclusion closer by improving connectivity in the underserved remote and mountainous areas of India, fetching quite a number of the population under access to the internet, the most common and vital communication form today. 

"Starlink services will be integrated with Airtel's existing network and retail architecture for use by businesses, schools, health centers, and remote communities," said the operator. The collaboration is expected to further propel Airtel's aspirations toward integrating satellite technology into its terrestrial network for enhanced connectivity reliability. This is a strategy to ensure that Airtel extends its reach to even the remotest places of the country. 

Impact on India's Digital Landscape

Starlink's entry into India portrays a different approach to solving the connectivity problems through tie-ups with big telecom brands such as Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel. By using low-Earth orbit satellites, Starlink will be able to provide high-speed internet access literally anywhere from a traditionally impractical or too costly geographical location. This can revolutionize the way people access the internet in rural and remote areas and come close to the national dream of digital inclusivity.

However, the success of the initiatives has flourished mainly in Hindi types of media interpretations since they mainly became.