Starlink In Talks With BSNL, Nelco And Others to Forge Airtel, Jio-Like Tie-Up

After partnering with Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio, Elon Musk's satellite internet services company, Starlink, is in talks to join hands with more Indian companies. Earlier this month, the company announced partnerships with telecom majors to sell its devices locally.

According to a report by The Economic Times (ET), Musk's firm has started talks with companies like state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL), Tata Group's Nelco, and Hughes Communications to help in starting its services in India.

The report added that Starlink plans to expand its services quickly by partnering with various firms. It will offer services both independently and through partnerships, similar to its deals with Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel.

Last month, Vodafone Idea also mentioned that it is exploring potential partnerships with satcom providers, including Starlink.

Starlink Still Waiting for Approvals      

Despite still awaiting regulatory approval to begin its services in India, Starlink has already started laying the groundwork, the report said. Through partnerships with Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, Starlink plans to offer its equipment and services at the telcos' outlets and explore additional collaboration opportunities.

On the regulatory front, Starlink has agreed to most conditions to secure a GMPCS (Global Mobile Personal Communications by Satellite) license from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), though some concerns remain. Specifically, the company has yet to commit to setting up monitoring zones along India’s international borders, including areas like J&K and Ladakh, as required by Indian regulations. The current rules mandate companies to provide monitoring facilities within 10 kilometers of borders to law enforcement agencies.

Union Minister for Communications, Jyotiraditya Scindia, in recent interviews has said that Starlink has yet to comply with India's security norms and regulatory requirements needed to obtain a license for satellite communications services. Scindia emphasised that the government is willing to grant the license once Starlink addresses all security concerns and meets the stipulated conditions.

According to the recent reports, senior executives from Starlink recently met with Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal to discuss investments and the company's plans to serve underserved regions, including the North-East.