Mumbai, India – Billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Jio Platforms Ltd. surprised the market by announcing a partnership with SpaceX to offer Starlink Inc.’s satellite internet services in India. This move comes shortly after rival Bharti Airtel Ltd. revealed a similar arrangement.

The collaboration between Ambani’s Jio and Bharti signifies a shift in approach, with both companies now embracing Elon Musk’s Starlink as a core part of their infrastructure. This change in stance highlights Musk’s increasing influence on a global scale, particularly as a close adviser to US President Donald Trump.

Both partnerships are contingent on SpaceX obtaining regulatory approval to sell Starlink in India. It demonstrates a recognition by the Indian billionaires of the inevitability of Musk’s companies entering the Indian market and their desire to collaborate rather than compete head-on.

In addition to the satellite internet deals, Tesla, another of Musk’s ventures, is preparing to enter the Indian market by sending thousands of cars to the country and establishing showrooms. The partnerships with Jio and Bharti will involve the distribution of Starlink equipment through their retail outlets and online stores, as well as exploring ways to enhance each other’s offerings.

The Indian government’s decision to allocate satellite spectrum at predetermined prices last year raised concerns that Starlink could potentially challenge existing terrestrial networks and impact the subscriber base of Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd. and Bharti. As India’s two largest wireless carriers, Reliance Jio and Bharti are positioning themselves to remain key players in the satellite broadband market.

The partnerships with Starlink in India are part of Musk’s broader strategy to expand his businesses into emerging markets. The competition among satellite internet providers could lead to competitive pricing in India, with the satellite communication market expected to more than double by 2030.

With approvals still pending from India’s telecom and home ministries, including compliance with local security norms, the timeline for implementing the partnerships remains uncertain. Despite the challenges ahead, Ambani’s Reliance Jio and Mittal’s Bharti are actively participating in shaping the future of satellite broadband in India.