On Wednesday, Jio Platforms announced its partnership with Elon Musk-owned SpaceX to bring low-orbit satellite-powered Starlink high-speed internet services to India. This announcement comes just a day after Airtel announced a similar partnership with SpaceX.
“Our collaboration with SpaceX to bring Starlink to India strengthens our commitment and marks a transformative step toward seamless broadband connectivity for all. By integrating Starlink into Jio’s broadband ecosystem, we are expanding our reach and enhancing the reliability and accessibility of high-speed broadband in this AI-driven era, empowering communities and businesses across the country,” said Mathew Oommen, Group CEO of Reliance Jio.
“We are looking forward to working with Jio and receiving authorisation from the Government of India to provide more people, organisations, and businesses with access to Starlink’s high-speed internet services,” said Gwynne Shotwell, President and Chief Operating Officer of SpaceX.
As of now, there is no information on the launch date or the pricing of Starlink services in India. Considering the service is priced at $80 a month in the US, which roughly translates to Rs 7,000, we expect Starlink services to be on the expensive side, especially compared to JioFiber and Jio AirFiber, which start at less than Rs 1,000 a month.
With this agreement, Jio is authorised to sell Starlink devices in India, which connect directly to satellites to offer high-speed wireless internet even in remote areas. Jio has also confirmed that Starlink solutions will be available for purchase via its retail chains across the country, and the company will support service installation and activation.
To use Starlink, one will need a dish, which is a phased-array satellite dish that automatically aligns itself for optimal connectivity, along with a Starlink router that provides Wi-Fi access. The entire kit costs $350 or Rs 30,000. The setup also requires a power supply unit to power both the dish and router, as well as the necessary cables for connectivity. Additionally, the kit comes with a standard tripod mount, though other mounting options like pole, roof, or wall mounts can be purchased separately.
When compared to a regular broadband connection, the setup cost for Starlink is slightly higher. On top of that, it also comes with several challenges, such as weather conditions like heavy rain, snow, or storms, can temporarily disrupt the signal, leading to slower speeds or brief outages. Additionally, the dish must have a clear line of sight to the satellites for optimal performance.
Despite these challenges, Starlink is highly useful in remote areas where there are no cellular towers or wired broadband access.
Jio, the world’s largest mobile operator, has now partnered with Starlink, a pioneer in low Earth orbit satellite constellations, to deliver high-speed wireless broadband services in India, complementing Jio’s existing JioAirFiber and JioFiber broadband services.
