Starlink Joins Hands With Reliance Jio & Airtel: "To Power Digital India's Soaring Ambitions," Says India's Communication Minister, Scindia

Today, SpaceX's President and COO, Gwynne Shotwell, VP of Starlink Business Lauren Dreyer, and Director of Global Licensing Ryan Goodnight met with India's Communication Minister, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia.

SpaceX signed agreements with Ambani's Reliance Jio and Mittal's Bharti Airtel, which together control more than 70% of India's telecom market. Earlier this month, SpaceX received a commercial operations license from the telecom department.

Jyotiraditya said," Had a productive meeting with Ms. Shotwell on India's next frontier in connectivity. We delved into opportunities for collaboration in satellite communications to power Digital India's soaring ambitions and empower every citizen across the country." He added that Ms. Shotwell appreciated the license granted to Starlink.

An X ( formerly twitter) user wrote," Starlink is going to settle in the lap of Airtel and Jio. India's communication minister has primary responsibility to serve Indian citizens first, not Jio and Airtel because Starlink already went into their lap. They will start to loot all Indian Taxpayer citizens 100%."

Another user wrote," Awesome update! Love seeing SpaceX's president, Gwynne Shotwell and India’s Minister Scindia collaborate to empower citizens with satellite internet. Can’t wait to see how this transforms remote areas—huge potential!."

Starlink is a satellite internet constellation operated by Starlink Services, an international telecommunications provider that is a wholly owned subsidiary of American aerospace company SpaceX providing coverage to around 130 countries and territories.It also aims to provide global mobile broadband.

It employs the world's largest low Earth orbit or LEO constellation (550 km above Earth), unlike conventional satellite services that depend on distant geostationary satellites.It will provide high-speed internet to businesses, healthcare centres, schools, and remote communities across India, according to reports.