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India's Vodafone Idea Explores Partnership with Elon Musk's Starlink

India's Vodafone Idea Explores Partnership with Elon Musk's Starlink

Last week, Musk's SpaceX signed deals with Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio to bring Starlink's internet services to India.

By Reuters | Updated: 19 March 2025 18:52 IST

India's Vodafone Idea Explores Partnership with Elon Musk's Starlink

Photo Credit: Reuters

Shares of Vodafone Idea rose nearly five percent on Wednesday

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Highlights

Vodafone is still in the process of rolling out 5G services in India
In February it reportedly began 5G trials in Mumbai
Starlink awaits government approval to start India operations

Vodafone Idea is in exploratory talks with various satellite communication providers, including Starlink, the company said on Wednesday, a week after the Indian telecom firm's rivals signed deals with Elon Musk's company.

The mobile operator made the disclosure after Indian stock exchanges sought a clarification on its stock move and a report by local financial news website Moneycontrol earlier in the day.

Shares of Vodafone Idea rose nearly five percent on Wednesday.

Vodafone Idea (Vi) 5G Service Goes Live in Mumbai: Check Plans

"Our strategy is to provide services -- whether fixed or mobile -- in uncovered areas, where satellite makes perfect sense," Vodafone Idea Chief Technology Officer Jagbir Singh told Moneycontrol, as per the report.

"The other (strategy) is to provide fixed wireless broadband in rural areas and smaller towns, where it is expensive to roll out such services."

Last week, Musk's SpaceX signed deals with Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio to bring Starlink's internet services to India.

India Needs Satellite Internet, Minister Says in Boost to Musk's Starlink

As part of the deals, the Indian operators will stock Starlink's equipment in their retail stores, giving the US-based satellite communication firm a direct distribution point in thousands of such outlets across the country.

The deals will be conditional on Starlink obtaining government approval to begin operations in the country.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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