After Airtel & Jio, Vodafone Idea Eyes Alliance With Starlink, Others

SUMMARY

Telecom major Vodafone Idea has initiated talks with Starlink and Amazon Kuiper to offer their satellite-based internet services to its customers in India

The recent development coincides with Vodafone Idea’s announcement of its 5G services roll out in Mumbai as the company is gradually launching its 5G network in the country

Bharti Airtel and Jio Platforms deal with Starlink hinges on SpaceX obtaining regulatory approval to offer satcom services in the country

Following the lead of its rivals Bharti Airtel and Jio Infocomm, telecom major Vodafone Idea has initiated talks with Elon Musk-led Starlink and Jeff Bezos-owned Amazon Kuiper to offer their satellite-based internet services to its customers in India.

Vodafone Idea CTO Jagbir Singh said that the company is holding discussions with its partners and will give an update on the matter “at an appropriate time,” ET reported.

This comes days after Bharti Airtel and Jio Platforms entered into an agreement with aerospace company SpaceX to bring Starlink’s satellite internet services to India. However, the deals hinge on SpaceX obtaining regulatory approval to offer Starlink services in the country.

A separate report by Moneycontrol said that Vodafone Idea is in talks with Starlink and “two-three other companies”, including Eutelsat OneWeb, for offering their internet services in rural areas where deploying telecom infrastructure and laying fibre is difficult.

The recent development coincides with Vodafone Idea’s announcement of its 5G services roll out in Mumbai as the company is gradually launching its 5G network in the country. While its counterparts, Airtel and Jio have spread their 5G network nationwide, Vodafone Idea is starting off in a phased manner.

It must be noted that the Indian government last week directed Starlink to comply with a slew of new mandates. Local authorities told Starlink to establish a control centre in the country which would enable the government to suspend satcom services in sensitive or troubled areas, when necessary, to maintain law and order.

The Centre also directed Starlink to allow law-enforcement agencies to intercept calls through official channels when required.

As per the existing laws, companies are required to secure a GMPCS licence and IN-SPACe approval, along with allocation of spectrum from the Indian government, to offer satellite-based voice and data services in the country.

Currently, only Bharti Group-backed Eutelsat OneWeb and Reliance-owned Orbit Connect have received GMPCS licences and approval from IN-SPACe.

The Centre has hinted that it would take the administrative route for satcom spectrum allocation, even as India’s telecom companies have opposed this stance.