Jio and Airtel Plan Starlink Services – Questions Arise On Affordability And Reach

New Delhi: With Reliance Jio and Airtel – the country’s top two mobile service operators – inking deals with Elon Musk’s SpaceX, in an effort to bring Starlink to India, questions have started doing the round on whether this will actually help the common man ‘Link’ to the internet in remote areas or end up being a ‘Star’ plaything for the rich and famous, who love to stay connected to their beloved fans from all locations.

All will depend on how expensive the services will be once SpaceX gets necessary clearances to sell Starlink in India. There will be certain security concerns, no doubt, given the fact that the internet connections will be satellite-based. These services are now availed by astronauts, air travellers and mariners, who have no access to mobile towers. In November, Myanmarese smugglers caught with over 5,000 kg of narcotics in the Andaman Sea were using Starlink to navigate and communicate.

Reliance Jio’s Group CEO Mathew Oommen has said: “We are committed to ensuring high-speed broadband reaches every Indian, no matter where they are. Partnering with SpaceX to bring Starlink to India is a major step toward seamless connectivity for all.”

Jio’s deal with SpaceX came a day after Airtel did the same. Airtel has also maintained that it wishes to expand connectivity and make internet accessible to all in the country.

If handled correctly, this will be a boon for the common man in this day of technological advancement. While mobile telephony is now available in most rural areas, high speed internet continues to remain a problem. Apart from businesses, the worst affected are students who are now dependent on the net, both for online courses as well as information regarding admissions to various institutions. Nowadays, forms for most entrance examinations have to be filled and submitted online.

Even during the pandemic, when classes were held online, students from the rural areas had complained of slow internet connections.