Vodafone Idea Sets Its Sights on Starlink: Exploring Potential Satellite Partnerships to Bridge Connectivity Gaps in India

On Wednesday, Vodafone Idea announced that it is in the early stages of discussions with several satellite communication companies, including Starlink, following a week after its competitors in the Indian telecom sector finalized agreements with Elon Musk’s firm.

This information was provided by the mobile operator after Indian stock exchanges requested clarity regarding its stock fluctuations and a report from local financial news outlet Moneycontrol that day.

On Wednesday, the shares of Vodafone Idea surged by almost five percent.

«Our approach is to offer services—both fixed and mobile—in areas that are not covered, where satellite communication is an ideal solution,» stated Vodafone Idea’s Chief Technology Officer, Jagbir Singh, according to the report by Moneycontrol.

«Another strategy involves delivering fixed wireless broadband in rural locales and smaller towns, where the deployment of such services poses high costs.»

Last week, Musk’s SpaceX entered into agreements with Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio to introduce Starlink’s internet services in India.

Under these agreements, the Indian telecom operators will stock Starlink’s devices in their retail locations, providing the US-based satellite communication company with a direct distribution mechanism accessible in thousands of outlets nationwide.

These agreements will hinge on Starlink receiving governmental approval to initiate its operations within the country.

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