How does the Starlink of Elon Musk help Indian Internet users? Expert says that

Elon Musk’s SpaceX will soon offer its customers in India Starlink’s satellite internet service. The two largest operators of the state – Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio – have signed a contract with Mr. Musk’s companies to start mass -satellite broadband services. Sandeep Budki, journalist and telecommunications expert, spoke to NDTV about what business means and how it will change internet services in the country.

Mr. Budki said the service would offer “Last Mile Connectivity” in the remote areas.

“There are several remote areas in which internet services have not yet reached. But even if it is there, it is very slow. What can be used there? Forgot wires and towers, we will now use satellites. The most important thing about the satellite conference is that wherever there is an open area, there will be an open satellite cover,” he said.

“With this technology, both Airtel and Jio Broadband Services want to offer internet connectivity to reach the ordinary man.

Starlink offers high-speed internet access to distant locations of satellites with a low orbit.

After the start, people could also use Internet services on domestic flights. This service is already provided by several airlines outside of India.

“Packages would also be made for domestic airlines in India, and people can take advantage of it,” said Budki.

Mr. Budki said that there would also be obstacles to the satellite broadband services, but only a few will be such cases.

“There is hardware, there is technology, at some point or the other it can fail. And people must be exposed to obstacles,” he said.

Meaning of starlink pact with Airtel, Jio

Jio, India’s largest telecommunications operator, will record Starlink devices in retail stores and give Starlink a direct sales point in thousands of such outlets across the country. The Reliance deal follows a similar partnership announcement between Starlink and India No. 2 telecommunications player Bharti Airtel the day before. Both the Airtel and the Jio deals depend on Starlink, who obtain the government’s approval in order to start business activities in the country.

“Many people in India do not know anything about Starlink. You may know something about Elon Musk. Here people know about Airtel and Jio. So if they receive the government’s consent, services will be started,” said Budki.

He also said that this technology is initially used for B2B services such as companies and factories. “It is first used in education and health (sectors), since from the consumer’s point of view can be the prices on the higher side. There are no details of the pricing. However, if you deal with international pricing, you can say that the services will be expensive.”

However, he added that the pricing may depend on the subsidies.

“The pricing depends on the subsidies. And now Jio is also involved in this area, and if it starts a new service, the price is so that the competitors are tense up a little and the consumers are upset … I have the feeling that Jio and Airtel definitely give free test versions for some time.” Mr. Budki said.

Starlink offers more than 125 markets all over the world.

He also said that the countries that already use Starlink services “have not yet received any major complaints”.

“When we talk about Ukraine, the maximum Internet connectivity of the country is carried out by Starlink. This means that the real -time basis for army use or coordinated efforts is used,” he said.

Mr. Budki believes that Airtel and Jio are tied together because both companies are working on their satellite conference. “Jio introduced his services on the recently kept Indian mobile congress. Airtel had already made it. So it shows that they are working on the satellite conference. Perhaps they are not yet finished. Therefore, they have got together with Starlink for the time being. Perhaps they will be inexpensive. Therefore, use them.

The agreement takes place after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Elon Musk in Washington last month. While the business interests of the tech mogul in India are currently limited to social media platform X, electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla is preparing its entry into the fifth largest economy in the world.

Starlink has been waiting since 2022 that licenses in India operate commercially without a clear timeline to make a decision. It was delayed for reasons, including national security concerns.