Airtel, SpaceX Partner to Bring Starlink Internet to India
Airtel partners with SpaceX to bring Starlink satellite internet to India, expanding high-speed connectivity to remote regions. Regulatory approval pending.
image for illustrative purpose
Bharti Airtel has entered into an agreement with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to introduce Starlink’s satellite internet service in India. This collaboration, disclosed on Tuesday, aims to expand high-speed internet accessibility across rural and underserved regions of the country.
The partnership will explore various deployment strategies, including Starlink’s hardware availability in Airtel’s retail stores and offering the satellite service to businesses and public institutions such as schools and healthcare facilities. The agreement marks Starlink’s first official partnership in India, contingent on regulatory approvals for SpaceX to operate commercially in the country.
Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX’s Chief Operating Officer, expressed enthusiasm about the initiative, highlighting Starlink’s potential to transform digital access in India. Airtel also confirmed the news through an official statement and social media announcement.
This agreement follows Musk’s recent discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Washington, where topics like technological cooperation, innovation, and infrastructure development were addressed. Additionally, Tesla has signed a deal to establish its first showroom in India, signaling Musk’s increasing investments in the market.
India, home to nearly a billion internet users, still faces connectivity challenges in remote regions due to the high cost and complexity of fiber-optic installations. Starlink’s satellite-based service, capable of delivering speeds between 25 Mbps and 220 Mbps, could help bridge this gap, especially in areas without reliable broadband access.
According to official figures, out of India’s 6,44,131 villages, around 6,15,836 currently have 4G coverage, leaving a significant portion of the population without consistent internet connectivity.
Although SpaceX has not yet announced Starlink’s pricing for India, past estimates from former Starlink India Country Director Sanjay Bhargava suggest it could cost approximately Rs 1,58,000 in the first year, with annual costs dropping to Rs 1,15,000 from the second year. By comparison, neighboring countries do not have access to Starlink, except for Bhutan, where the ‘Residential Lite Plan’ is priced at Rs 3,000 per month, offering speeds between 23 Mbps and 100 Mbps, while the ‘Standard Residential Plan’ costs Rs 4,200 per month for speeds up to 110 Mbps.
Starlink currently operates in over 100 countries, with pricing varying significantly. In Kenya, it is available for $10 per month, whereas in the United States, it costs $120 monthly.
India’s internet penetration has surged in the last decade. Government data shows an increase in internet connections from 25 crore in 2014 to over 96 crore by 2024, marking a 285.53 per cent growth. Broadband connections have also expanded exponentially, rising from 6 crore to 94 crore in the same period—an increase of 1,452 per cent.
Wireless data consumption has similarly skyrocketed, with the average monthly data usage per subscriber rising from 61.66 MB in 2014 to 21.30 GB in 2024—a 353-fold jump.
Additionally, India has achieved one of the fastest 5G rollouts globally, deploying over 4.62 lakh BTS (Base Transceiver Stations) across 779 districts.
The Airtel-Starlink deal signifies a significant step in India’s digital expansion, potentially providing an alternative to traditional broadband infrastructure. However, SpaceX still requires regulatory clearances before launching full-scale services in the country. If approved, the collaboration could reshape India’s telecom landscape by introducing satellite-based internet as a mainstream option for businesses and individuals.
