Why did Jio-Airtel make a deal with SpaceX, what will change with Starlink coming to India; know everything..

Airtel announced on Tuesday that it has signed a deal with Elon Musk's company SpaceX to bring Starlink to India. Soon after, Jio made a similar announcement on Wednesday morning. Both Airtel and Jio are working with SpaceX to bring Starlink's satellite internet service to India, allowing them to provide their services in the most remote areas of the country. The special thing is that the deal of both Airtel and Jio is dependent on SpaceX getting the necessary approval to sell Starlink in India. If this approval is received, Jio and Airtel will offer Starlink services and equipment through their stores and online platforms. Let's know about Starlink and the deal in detail.

When will this rollout happen?

Jio and Airtel have signed a deal with SpaceX on March 11 and 12, 2025. However, the rollout date will not be confirmed until SpaceX gets the necessary license and security clearance from the Government of India. Apart from this, it is also necessary for Starlink to follow rules like data localization and national security protocols in India. If everything goes as planned, Starlink service is likely to start by the second quarter of 2025 (April-June). But in case of delay, this date may also be pushed further.

Understand about Starlink:

What is Starlink?

Starlink is a satellite internet service developed by Elon Musk-owned SpaceX. This service provides high-speed internet through a network of thousands of satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO), i.e. constellation. Its purpose is to provide internet to remote and rural areas where traditional cable or fiber internet does not reach.

Starlink gives users a small satellite dish (also known as 'Dishy McFlatface') and a router, which provides internet connectivity by receiving signals from satellites. Apart from this, Starlink is now also working on a direct-to-sale service, which will allow mobile phones to be connected to satellites without any changes. Starlink's network is spread across the world and it is providing service in more than 100 countries.

How is it different from others?

Companies like Jio and Airtel provide internet through fiber optics and mobile towers. Whereas, Starlink is based on a satellite network. It works through small satellites, ground stations, and user terminals.

Is its speed higher?

Starlink's satellites are closer to the earth (550KM) than traditional satellite internet service. This is why the latency of the network is better. According to the claim, Starlink provides speeds up to 150MBPS. Which is less than fiber broadband. But, better than traditional satellite internet.

What changes will be seen in India?

At present, the internet is not accessible in every corner of the country. According to government data, rural teledensity was 59.1% till March 2024. Starlink's service can prove to be a game-changer for these areas. This can help in promoting education and online education even in remote areas. Also, in case of a flood or earthquake, its service can be used due to damage to the ground network.

Will Starlink challenge existing companies?

Starlink and other satcom services are not competition for traditional internet companies but are complementary services to them. However, its cost is high. Starlink's plans are 7 to 18 times more expensive than existing broadband plans. By the way, if the government wants, it can help reduce prices by using the Universal Service Obligation Fund in the Digital India scheme.

Starlink plans and speed: What can India expect?

At present, Starlink's plans for India have not been officially announced yet. But, we can look at Bhutan's pricing and speed models as a reference for what to expect in India.

Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from Dainik Jagran. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.