Reliance Jio and SpaceX Collaborate to Provide India with Starlink Satellite Internet

Reliance Jio and SpaceX have teamed up to provide Starlink satellite internet in India, with an emphasis on rural regions.

Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Jio have teamed up to introduce Starlink satellite internet services to India in a ground-breaking move. This partnership represents a strategic change for both businesses following months of disagreements over spectrum distribution.

With an emphasis on rural and disadvantaged areas, the agreement, which was announced on March 12, 2025, intends to close India’s digital divide.

Dependence In order to establish a direct distribution channel for the satellite internet service, Jio, the biggest telecom provider in India, would carry Starlink equipment in its retail locations. However, the agreement is contingent on government clearance, which has been delayed because of national security concerns. In order to guarantee the smooth deployment of Starlink devices, Jio will also offer installation and activation assistance.

According to Neil Shah, co-founder of Counterpoint Research, the collaboration is a “win-win” for everyone involved. Analyst Vivekanand Subbaraman of Ambit Capital said, “This is India’s way of saying to the US, ‘Let’s work together.'” The fact that Mr. Musk has significant influence in the US government and is using it to his advantage was evident.

The partnership comes after a similar one was announced the day before between SpaceX and Bharti Airtel, the second-biggest telecom provider in India.

Using Starlink’s low Earth orbit satellite technology, both agreements seek to provide high-speed internet to isolated areas. However, analysts predict that, given the extensive availability of inexpensive 5G services currently implemented throughout the nation, satellite internet will mainly serve niche markets in India.

India has a relatively low fixed broadband subscription rate of 41 million, even though there are over 1 billion active mobile users. Given that India’s per capita GDP is less than $3,000 and Starlink’s premium price, analysts at Axis Capital said that the company is “unlikely to become mainstream in India.”

According to Subbaraman, “Elon Musk might have constructed his own headquarters and distribution, but that’s a difficult and costly task. Based on these collaborations, Elon Musk will have visibility right now. To reach customers, you must have distribution muscle.

New Delhi’s security worries about Starlink’s operations in crucial border areas shared with China and Pakistan may also be addressed by the joint ventures. Satellite internet’s commercial potential in urban and suburban India is limited, even though its core market is anticipated to be in remote areas.

The collaborations follow Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with Musk in Washington, where they discussed innovation, transportation, and space. Musk’s demand for administratively allotted airwaves at a predetermined price in October 2024 was backed by the Indian government, allowing low-latency satellite services. Prior to this judgment, Jio and Airtel had voiced fears that it would affect their customer base and cut entry costs for new competitors.

The partnership is exciting, said Gwynne Shotwell, President of SpaceX, who said, “We look forward to working with Jio and receiving authorization from the Government of India.” In the meantime, Reliance aims to integrate Starlink’s capabilities in order to improve its broadband offering, which includes JioFiber and JioAirFiber.

By 2030, it is anticipated that India’s satellite services industry will have grown to $1.9 billion, at an annual rate of 36%. Setting the stage for revolutionary changes in India’s connectivity environment, the Jio-SpaceX partnership is a major step toward innovative infrastructure and rural empowerment.