Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Jio signed a deal to bring Starlink satellite internet services to India, according to Reuters.
Reliance Jio, India’s largest telecom operator, will stock Starlink equipment in its retail stores, providing SpaceX with a direct distribution channel across thousands of outlets in the country. Jio Platforms, which operates Reliance Jio, will also offer installation and activation support for Starlink devices.
The two companies are exploring additional areas of collaboration to leverage their infrastructure, though specific details have not been disclosed.
However, Musk and Ambani had been at odds over how India should allocate spectrum for satellite internet services. Ambani’s Reliance had pushed for an auction-based system, whereas Musk advocated for administrative allocation, which aligns with global practices. The Indian government ultimately sided with Musk’s approach, paving the way for the partnership.
Reliance had expressed concerns that Starlink could dominate India’s telecom market, but the distribution deal represents a pragmatic shift toward cooperation. The Reliance deal follows a similar partnership announcement between Starlink and Bharti Airtel, India’s second-largest telecom operator. Both deals are contingent on Starlink obtaining government approval to operate commercially in India.
Following the announcement, Airtel’s shares fell by 1% in Mumbai trading, while Reliance Industries saw a marginal increase. The agreements come weeks after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Musk in Washington to discuss space, mobility, and technology collaborations.
