MUMBAI; In a dramatic move set to shake up India's telecommunications landscape, Airtel has today inked an agreement with Elon Musk's SpaceX to bring Starlink's lightning-fast internet services to the subcontinent.
The landmark deal—the first of its kind in India—hinges on SpaceX securing regulatory approvals to peddle Starlink services in the country. Once green-lit, the partnership promises to dramatically expand high-speed connectivity to even the most far-flung corners of India.
Under the ambitious arrangement, Airtel shops could soon display Starlink equipment, whilst the telecom giant will offer Starlink services to its business customers. The collaboration aims to connect remote communities, schools and health centres currently languishing in digital darkness.
Airtel and SpaceX will also explore how Starlink could help expand and enhance the Airtel network, as well as SpaceX’s ability to utilise and benefit from Airtel’s ground network infrastructure and other capabilities in India.
Airtel managing director Gopal Vittal hailed the partnership as a "significant milestone" in the company's quest to deliver "world-class high-speed broadband to even the most remote parts of India."
"This collaboration enhances our ability to ensure that every individual, business, and community has reliable internet," Vittal declared. "Starlink will complement and enhance Airtel's suite of products to ensure reliable and affordable broadband for our Indian customers—wherever they live and work."
“Technology is always evolving and we’re committed to staying at the forefront of innovation so that we can continue to bring the best connectivity experience for our customers. This includes collaborating with global leaders like SpaceX to extend our reach and add new coverage to customers throughout all of India.”
SpaceX's President Gwynne Shotwell matched Vittal's enthusiasm, stating: "We are excited to work with Airtel and unlock the transformative impact Starlink can bring to the people of India. We are constantly amazed by the incredible and inspiring things that people, businesses and organizations do when they are connected via Starlink. The team at Airtel has played a pivotal role in India’s telecom story, so working with them to complement our direct offering makes great sense for our business.”
The deal represents a clever strategic move for Airtel, which already boasts over 550 million customers across 15 countries. By adding Starlink to its portfolio alongside existing partner Eutelsat OneWeb, Airtel strengthens its position as India's largest integrated communications solutions provider.
Starlink, which operates the world's first and largest low Earth orbit satellite constellation, delivers broadband internet capable of supporting streaming, gaming and video calls to users worldwide. The service is engineered and operated by SpaceX, the world's leading rocket launch provider.
The collaboration signals a new chapter in India's digital transformation saga, potentially bridging the stubborn digital divide that has long hampered the nation's development ambition
