Bharti Airtel Partners with SpaceX to Bring Starlink Internet to India

Bharti Airtel has announced a strategic partnership with SpaceX, the aerospace giant led by Elon Musk, to introduce Starlink satellite internet services in India.

This marks Starlink’s first formal collaboration in the country, significantly boosting Airtel’s presence in the satellite broadband sector, particularly in rural and underserved areas.

Regulatory Approvals Still Pending

The partnership is subject to regulatory clearances, as SpaceX awaits necessary approvals from the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Center (IN-SPACe) and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to officially launch Starlink operations in India.

SpaceX has reportedly agreed to meet India’s data localisation and security requirements, which had previously delayed its authorisation.

Integration with Airtel’s Existing Satellite Services

With this collaboration, Airtel will integrate Starlink into its existing satellite broadband services, which already include Eutelsat OneWeb, to provide nationwide high-speed internet coverage.

This initiative aims to bridge India’s digital divide by expanding connectivity to remote villages, schools, healthcare centres, and businesses.

Expanding Distribution and Enterprise Services

Beyond broadband coverage, Airtel and SpaceX are exploring the possibility of distributing Starlink equipment through Airtel’s extensive retail network.

They are also considering offering Starlink services to enterprise customers, further enhancing Airtel’s broadband portfolio. Additionally, Airtel’s ground infrastructure and market expertise will support SpaceX’s operational rollout in India.

Rising Competition in India’s Satellite Broadband Market

India’s satellite broadband sector is becoming increasingly competitive. Eutelsat OneWeb (backed by Airtel) and Reliance Jio’s joint venture with SES have already secured GMPCS (Global Mobile Personal Communications by Satellite) licenses and IN-SPACe approvals. Meanwhile, Amazon’s Kuiper project plans to launch 3,236 satellites by early 2025, further intensifying competition.

Airtel’s Vision for Satellite Connectivity

Commenting on the partnership, Gopal Vittal, Managing Director and Vice Chairman of Bharti Airtel Ltd., stated, “Working with SpaceX to offer Starlink to Airtel customers in India is a significant milestone and further demonstrates our commitment to next-generation satellite connectivity. This collaboration enhances our ability to bring world-class high-speed broadband to even the most remote parts of India, ensuring that every individual, business, and community has reliable internet. Starlink will complement and enhance Airtel’s suite of products to ensure reliable and affordable broadband for our Indian customers – wherever they live and work.”

Evolving Satellite Communication Policies in India

Despite the promising collaboration, regulatory approval remains the key challenge for Starlink’s official entry into India. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is expected to soon finalise pricing details for satellite spectrum allocation.

While the Indian government has indicated that spectrum will be allocated administratively with a fee structure, major telecom operators have been lobbying for an auction-based system.

India’s Growing Space Economy

As India’s space industry expands, IN-SPACe projects that the country’s space economy will reach $44 billion by 2033, capturing 8% of the global market share, up from the current 2%.

With over 6,000 Starlink satellites already in orbit, the anticipated regulatory approvals could reshape India’s satellite broadband landscape. If cleared, the Airtel-Starlink partnership is set to play a crucial role in advancing digital connectivity across the nation.

Stock Performance 

On March 11, 2025, Bharti Airtel share price ended 1.93% higher at ₹1,661.20. Bharti Airtel share price reached a 52-week high of ₹1,778.95, and a 52-week low of ₹1,151.30. As per BSE, the total traded volume for the stock stood at 0.85 lakh shares with a turnover of ₹14.06 crore.

At the current price, Bharti Airtel shares are trading at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 63.19x, based on its trailing 12-month earnings per share (EPS) of ₹26.29, and a price-to-book (P/B) ratio of 9.77, according to exchange data.

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