Reliance Jio announced a collaboration with SpaceX, owned by Elon Musk, to offer high-speed internet services in India using Starlink, a low-orbit satellite. Airtel announced a similar cooperation with SpaceX the day before this announcement.
“Our collaboration with SpaceX to bring Starlink to India strengthens our commitment and marks a transformative step toward seamless broadband connectivity for all. By integrating Starlink into Jio’s broadband ecosystem, we are expanding our reach and enhancing the reliability and accessibility of high-speed broadband in this AI-driven era, empowering communities and businesses across the country,” said Mathew Oommen, Group CEO of Reliance Jio.
“We are looking forward to working with Jio and receiving authorisation from the Government of India to provide more people, organisations, and businesses with access to Starlink’s high-speed internet services,” said Gwynne Shotwell, President and Chief Operating Officer of SpaceX.
There is currently no information available on the Starlink services’ debut schedule or cost in India. We anticipate Starlink services to be on the pricey side, especially when compared to JioFiber and Jio AirFiber, which start at less than Rs 1,000 per month, given that the service costs $80 per month in the US, which is about equivalent to Rs 7,000.
With this deal, Jio has the right to market Starlink devices in India, which provide high-speed wireless internet even in rural locations by connecting straight to satellites. Jio has also stated that it will assist with service installation and activation and that Starlink solutions will be sold through its retail networks nationwide.
A Starlink router that offers Wi-Fi connection and a dish—a phased-array satellite dish that automatically aligns itself for best connectivity—are required in order to utilize Starlink. The total cost of the equipment is Rs 30,000 or $350. Along with the required wires for communication, the configuration also calls for a power supply device to power the router and dish. A conventional tripod mount is also included with the package, although additional mounting options including as pole, roof, or wall mounts are available for extra purchase.
Starlink has a little higher setup cost than a standard broadband connection. Furthermore, it has a number of drawbacks, including the potential for weather-related disruptions, such as severe rain, snow, or storms, to cause short-term outages or reduced speeds. For best results, the dish must also be in a direct line of sight of the satellites.
Notwithstanding these difficulties, Starlink is quite helpful in isolated locations without wired broadband or cellphone towers.
In order to provide high-speed wireless broadband services in India, Jio, the biggest mobile operator in the world, has teamed up with Starlink, a pioneer in low Earth orbit satellite constellations. This partnership will enhance Jio’s current JioFiber and JioAirFiber broadband services.
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