Jio Platforms Limited (JPL) has unveiled a strategic partnership with SpaceX. The collaboration aims to offer Starlink's broadband internet services to Jio's customers in India. This partnership is contingent on SpaceX receiving its own authorizations to sell Starlink in India. The alliance will enable both Jio and SpaceX to explore how Starlink can augment Jio's offerings and how Jio can supplement SpaceX's direct offerings to consumers and businesses.
Jio, recognized as the world's largest mobile operator in terms of data traffic, plans to make Starlink solutions accessible through its retail outlets and online storefronts. The partnership will leverage Starlink's position as the world's leading low Earth orbit satellite constellation operator to deliver reliable broadband services across India, including the most rural and remote regions.
The agreement with SpaceX is a testament to Jio's commitment to ensuring that reliable internet is fully accessible to all enterprises, small and medium businesses, and communities across India. Starlink complements JioAirFiber and JioFiber by extending high-speed internet to the most challenging of locations in a quick and affordable manner.
Jio will not only offer Starlink equipment in its retail outlets but will also establish a mechanism to support customer service installation and activation. Jio and SpaceX are also evaluating other complementary areas of cooperation to leverage their respective infrastructure to further enhance India's digital ecosystem. This collaboration is a transformative step toward seamless broadband connectivity for all. By integrating Starlink into Jio's broadband ecosystem, Jio is expanding its reach and enhancing the reliability and accessibility of high-speed broadband in this AI-driven era, empowering communities and businesses across the country.
The development comes a day after the company's rival, Bharti Airtel, announced that it had inked a similar pact. The Elon Musk-led satellite company has already agreed to meet the Indian government's data localisation and security requirements. Previously, this was a key point of contention and had proven to be a roadblock in negotiations.
Shares of Reliance Industries Ltd., Jio's parent, rose as much as 1.3% while Bharti surged as much as 3.3% during Mumbai trading before paring most of the gains. The Indian government faces the task of luring foreign investment from heavyweights like Musk and balancing it with the demands of local giants amid broader trade deal negotiations with the US.
The agreement between Jio and SpaceX is a significant milestone in the history of India's digital connectivity. It is reminiscent of the time when Jio revolutionized the Indian telecom sector by offering free voice calls and cheap data, leading to a massive surge in India's internet usage. This new partnership with SpaceX is expected to have a similar transformative impact, especially in rural and remote regions of India where internet connectivity is still a challenge.
