In a landmark move for India’s digital landscape, Reliance Jio, led by billionaire Mukesh Ambani, has partnered with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to bring Starlink’s satellite broadband internet services to the country, announced on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. The collaboration, detailed in press statements and reported by TechCrunch, Reuters, and The Economic Times, aims to expand high-speed internet access across India, particularly in remote and underserved areas, marking a significant step in bridging the nation’s digital divide.
Under the agreement, subject to regulatory approvals, Reliance Jio will integrate Starlink’s satellite broadband into its existing telecom ecosystem, offering the service through its retail outlets and online storefronts, as stated in TechCrunch’s report. Jio, India’s largest telecom operator and a subsidiary of Reliance Industries, will also provide customer service, installation, and activation support for Starlink equipment, enhancing accessibility for millions of users. The partnership will explore “other complementary areas of cooperation,” potentially involving infrastructure development and technology sharing, though specifics remain undisclosed, per The Economic Times.
“This partnership with SpaceX will expand our reach and enhance the reliability and accessibility of high-speed broadband in this AI-driven era, empowering communities and businesses across India,” said Mathew Oomen, Group CEO of Reliance Jio, in a prepared statement cited by TechCrunch. The move comes just hours after Airtel, India’s second-largest telecom operator, announced a similar deal with SpaceX, signaling fierce competition in India’s emerging satellite broadband market, as noted by Digital Watch Observatory.
Elon Musk’s Starlink, which uses low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, has been eyeing the Indian market since 2022, when it refunded preorders after failing to secure necessary approvals, according to TechCrunch. The latest partnership follows regulatory changes in India, where the government opted for administrative allocation of satellite spectrum rather than auctions, a decision Musk publicly supported, aligning with international standards, as reported by Digital Watch Observatory. This shift has paved the way for Starlink’s entry, with projections estimating that satellite internet could reach two million subscribers in India by 2025, per the same source.
For Reliance Jio, the collaboration represents a strategic move to maintain its dominance in India’s telecom sector, where it serves over 470 million subscribers, as noted in The Economic Times. Jio already operates JioSpaceFiber, a satellite broadband service in partnership with Luxembourg-based SES, but the Starlink deal allows it to leverage SpaceX’s extensive constellation of LEO satellites, known for their high launch frequency and global coverage in over 125 markets, per Reuters.
Musk’s relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump, who met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in late 2024 to discuss global tech partnerships, may have facilitated this deal, as suggested by Reuters. The partnership also follows Modi’s visit to the U.S., where he signed a subsea cable project agreement, potentially strengthening India’s digital infrastructure, as reported by TechCrunch.
However, the deal faces regulatory hurdles, requiring approval from the Indian government and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). Jio and SpaceX are also evaluating risks, including geopolitical factors and competition with rivals like Airtel, which could impact the partnership’s timeline and structure, per Digital Watch Observatory.
For Indian consumers, this collaboration promises faster, more reliable internet, especially in remote regions where traditional infrastructure is lacking. “This is a low-cost entry model for Starlink in India, and a win-win for both companies,” said Neil Shah, co-founder of Counterpoint Research, quoted in Reuters. The partnership could also spur innovation in India’s tech ecosystem, aligning with Jio’s vision of an “AI-driven era,” as stated by Oomen.
As India positions itself as a global tech hub, Reliance Jio’s alliance with SpaceX underscores the country’s ambition to lead in satellite broadband, driving economic growth and digital inclusion in 2025.
