After much anticipation, Elon Musk has successfully gained entry into India’s satellite internet market by forging a strategic partnership with Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Jio. This unexpected deal will allow Jio to distribute Starlink’s equipment throughout India, marking a major step for both companies. The agreement follows Musk’s meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Washington and comes amid ongoing debates over India’s steep import duties on Tesla vehicles.
For months, Musk and Ambani had clashed over India’s spectrum allocation approach for satellite internet. Reliance Jio had advocated for an auction-based model, while Musk pushed for administrative allocation. In the end, the Indian government aligned with Musk’s preference, paving the way for this collaboration. Now, Jio plans to stock Starlink equipment in thousands of retail locations, signaling a shift in strategy for both firms.
This partnership follows a similar deal between SpaceX and Bharti Airtel, India’s second-largest telecom company. However, both ventures still require government clearance, a process that has delayed Starlink’s entry into the Indian market since 2022. “This provides a cost-effective way in,” a source told Reuters, emphasizing the regulatory benefits Starlink gains through this partnership.
Musk’s ambitions in India extend beyond satellite broadband. Tesla has recently secured its first showroom location in the country but continues to face import tariffs exceeding 100%. The Jio-Starlink collaboration could potentially ease regulatory challenges for Starlink’s operations, as experts suggest that Musk’s political connections—particularly his ties to former U.S. President Donald Trump—could influence approvals. “Starlink has an edge with its large satellite constellation, frequent SpaceX launches, and geopolitical influence due to Musk’s Trump connection,” noted Chaitanya Giri, a Space Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation, in a statement to Reuters.
India’s satellite broadband market is projected to expand by 36% annually, reaching $1.9 billion by 2030. While Jio already operates a satellite broadband joint venture with Luxembourg-based SES, its new collaboration with Starlink indicates a strategic partnership rather than direct competition. This move could accelerate satellite internet adoption across India, benefiting both companies in the long run.
