Synopsis
Airtel's collaboration with SpaceX aims to provide affordable satellite internet in India, marking a new era of global connectivity. Sunil Bharti Mittal emphasizes the importance of collaboration in reaching remote areas.Key Takeaways
- Airtel partners with SpaceX for satellite internet.
- A new age of global connectivity is anticipated.
- Focus on connecting remote areas and communities.
- Integration of satellite technology in telecom.
- Potential to enhance Airtel's network infrastructure.
New Delhi, March 12 (NationPress) In a significant announcement, Airtel has forged a partnership with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to deliver its affordable satellite internet service to India. Sunil Bharti Mittal, the Founder and Chairman of Bharti Enterprises, expressed on Wednesday that a transformative era of uninterrupted global connectivity is on the horizon for consumers.
Mittal stated that soon, users will be able to take their mobile devices to the most remote corners of the globe, soaring over skies and navigating blue oceans.
During his opening remarks at the recently held ‘Mobile World Congress 2025’ in Barcelona, Mittal urged both telecom and satellite entities to collaborate, merge their strengths, and fulfill the mission of connecting the unconnected, reaching across oceans and skies as well as challenging terrains.
“I am pleased to witness the active announcements of collaborations between satellite firms and telecom operators,” he remarked.
Airtel has entered into an agreement with Musk’s SpaceX to introduce Starlink’s high-speed internet services to Indian consumers. This marks the first such deal in India, contingent on SpaceX obtaining the necessary authorizations to provide Starlink services within the country.
Mittal recalled making a similar appeal during his keynote at the Mobile World Congress in 2017, advocating for operators to reduce roaming fees that hindered customers from using their home networks and pushed them towards local SIMs or Wi-Fi hotspots.
“The industry reacted positively; roaming prices decreased, and the international home network switch-on rates surged. Today, roaming charges worldwide are quite reasonable,” he highlighted, adding, “I firmly believe that the satellite and telecom sectors globally will heed my call to unite their strengths.”
For the telecom sector, integrating satellite technology should be akin to adopting new innovations for consumers.
“Just as we have transitioned to 4G, 5G, and will soon embrace 6G, we will now include another technology in our portfolio, namely SAT-G,” Mittal stated.
Airtel and SpaceX will investigate the possibility of offering Starlink equipment in Airtel’s retail locations, providing Starlink services via Airtel to business clients, and finding opportunities to connect communities, schools, and healthcare facilities, even in the most rural regions of India.
Additionally, Airtel and SpaceX will assess how Starlink can assist in expanding and enhancing the Airtel network, as well as SpaceX’s potential to utilize and benefit from Airtel’s ground network infrastructure and other resources in India, as stated by the company.
