Context:
Within a day of the announcement of the partnership between Bharti Airtel and Elon Musk’s SpaceX for Starlink broadband services in India, Reliance Jio Platforms Ltd (JPL) announced a similar agreement with SpaceX for its services.
What is SpacesX’s Starlink?
Starlink is a satellite internet constellation operated by Starlink Services, LLC, an international telecommunications provider that is a wholly owned subsidiary of American aerospace company SpaceX, providing coverage to over 100 countries and territories. It also aims to provide global mobile broadband. Starlink has been instrumental to SpaceX’s growth.
Significant Aspects
- Jio will make Jio Starlink available after SpaceX has obtained all approvals to operate in India.
- Jio will offer retail sales of Starlink equipment via its physical locations and online portals.
- Jio will create support processes for Starlink consumers.
- Starlink will be further used to boost JioAirFiber and JioFiber to provide high speeds in places that tend to miss out on broadband.
- Jio and SpaceX are looking into additional partnership opportunities to improve India’s digital infrastructure.
Since both Jio and Airtel tied up with SpaceX, India’s satellite broadband sector will be developing significantly in the near future and help in better connectivity to remote locations.
Source: TH
