Ashwini Vaishnaw welcomes Elon Musk's Starlink to India, says ‘will be useful…’

Mukesh Ambani's Jio Platforms announced a deal with SpaceX, the aerospace company led by Elon Musk, to bring Starlink's broadband internet services to India.

Updated on: Mar 13, 2025, 01:07:29 IST

By HT News Desk

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Railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday welcomed Elon Musk's Starlink to India, saying that it will be useful for railway projects in remote areas.

“Starlink, welcome to India! Will be useful for remote area railway projects,” the minister posted on X.

Reliance Jio announces deal with Musk's StarX

Earlier in the day, Mukesh Ambani's Jio Platforms announced a deal with SpaceX, the aerospace company led by Elon Musk, to bring Starlink's broadband internet services to India.

The deal with Musk, a close aide of US President Donald Trump - comes a day after telecom tycoon Sunil Bharti Mittal's Bharti Airtel signed a similar partnership deal with SpaceX.

Starlink is the world's largest low-earth-orbit (LEO) constellation operated by SpaceX.

On Tuesday, Bharti Airtel announced that it is entering into an agreement with SpaceX to bring Starlink's high-speed Internet service to India on a non-exclusive basis, PTI reported.

ALSO READ: As Starlink eyes India, Airtel and Jio hope to augment their broadband play

Bharti already partners with Eutelsat OneWeb, the second-largest LEO constellation.

Similarly, Jio Platforms has a joint venture with SES, a leading global satellite-based content connectivity solutions provider.

According to the PTI report, Jio Space Technology Limited, where Jio holds 51 per cent and SES 49 per cent, is to use multi-orbit space networks that are a combination of geostationary (GEO) and medium earth orbit (MEO) satellite constellations capable of delivering multi-gigabit links and capacity to enterprises, mobile backhaul and retail customers across the length and breadth of India and neighbouring regions.

ALSO READ: Elon Musk's Starlink to enter India: What internet speeds does it offer? Explained

Starlink awaiting regulatory approvals in India

Starlink is awaiting regulatory approvals to launch Starlink services in India. Key to that is meeting the prescribed security norms. Also, such companies are required to secure a Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) licence and space regulator IN-SPACe's approval, along with the allocation of spectrum from the Indian government, to offer satellite-based voice and data services in the country.

(With PTI inputs)

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HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

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