Musk’s Starlink and Bharti Airtel sign deal to explore bringing satellite internet to India

New Delhi (AP) – The Indian Telecom operator BHARTI AIRTEL said on Tuesday that it signed a deal with Starlink from Elon Musk to explore the services of the Internet giant in the United States to customers in India, depending on government approval.

Musk has long wanted to enter Starlink in the world’s most populated market, but its entry into India was delayed due to organizational challenges, security concerns and opposition from local communications giants such as the Rellence Jio Mukesh Ambani.

Aartel – the second largest telecom operator in India – said in a statement that its deal with Starlink depends on whether Aerospace Spacex can obtain government approval to start working in India.

At least 40 % of 1.4 billion people in India are still unable to access the Internet, and the wide range of cheap satellites needed to fill this gap, especially in remote areas and wide mountains in India.

Musk’s Starlink has at least 6900 active satellites that revolve around the land that provides low -total wide range, including areas where the Internet was completely available.

Last November, the Indian Minister of Communications, Giotraradia Skendia, said that Starlink has not yet complied with the security rules, and that the license of telecommunications services via satellite will not be issued until after the company fulfills all the requirements.

The announcement of Aartel’s partnership comes weeks after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met in Misk in Washington, where they discussed issues including space, movement, technology and innovation.

The company’s statement said that the deal “will explore how Starlink can complete and expand AIRTEL offers, and how Artel’s experience in the Indian market will complete the direct offers of SPACEX for consumers and companies.”

As part of the agreement, the two companies will explore the provision of Starlink equipment in the vast aartel retail network, and Sgrlink Services through Aartel for business customers, and use the infrastructure for each other to enhance coverage throughout India.

The statement did not provide more details.