Why Jio and Airtel would be closely tracking Elon Musk's visit to India this month

Why Jio and Airtel would be closely tracking Elon Musk's visit to India this month

Regulatory approvals for Starlink licence are at an advanced stage. Starlink has close to 92 crore broadband subscribers, according to the latest data by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

Reliance Jio Infocomm and Bharti Airtel currently lead the broadband market, followed by Vodafone Idea and BSNL.

Tesla may not be the only thing on Elon Musk's mind when he lands in India this month. The billionaire is likely to announce plans to start Starlink, an affordable satellite-based internet service offered by Musk-run aerospace company SpaceX, in India. 

Regulatory approvals for Starlink licence are at an advanced stage. Starlink has close to 92 crore broadband subscribers, according to the latest data by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).  

Reliance Jio and Airtel, India's leading telecom companies, are likely keeping a close eye on Elon Musk's visit this month because of Starlink. Starlink is a satellite-based internet service offered by Musk's company SpaceX. Here's why this visit is significant for them:

Potential Starlink Launch in India: There are rumors that Musk might announce plans to launch Starlink in India during his visit. This is a big deal because:

Large Market: India has a massive broadband subscriber base (over 92 crore according to TRAI). Starlink could disrupt the market.

Competition: Jio and Airtel currently dominate the broadband market. Starlink's arrival would introduce new competition and potentially lower prices for consumers.

Regulatory Approvals: Reports suggest regulatory approvals for Starlink's license are in an advanced stage. Musk's visit might shed light on the timeline and conditions for this approval.

Overall, the potential entry of Starlink is a major development for the Indian telecom landscape. Jio and Airtel are likely trying to gauge how Starlink will affect their businesses and what strategies they might need to adopt in response