Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest individual, has officially entered the Indian telecom sector through a strategic partnership between SpaceX’s Starlink and two of India’s largest telecom giants—Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel. The collaboration aims to introduce high-speed satellite internet services to the country, marking a transformational leap in India’s broadband landscape.
The announcements came in quick succession, with Reliance Jio revealing its alliance with Starlink on Wednesday, following Bharti Airtel’s statement on Tuesday evening.
Mathew Oommen, Group CEO of Reliance Jio, emphasized the significance of the partnership, stating:
“Our collaboration with SpaceX to bring Starlink to India strengthens our commitment and marks a transformative step toward seamless broadband connectivity for all. By integrating Starlink into Jio’s broadband ecosystem, we are expanding our reach and enhancing the reliability and accessibility of high-speed broadband in this AI-driven era, empowering communities and businesses across the country.”
Similarly, SpaceX COO Gwynne Shotwell lauded Jio’s commitment to expanding digital infrastructure in India and expressed eagerness to work with the company.
“We applaud Jio’s commitment to advancing India’s connectivity. We look forward to collaborating with Jio and obtaining the necessary authorization from the Government of India to provide Starlink’s high-speed internet services to more people, organizations, and businesses across the country.”
Meanwhile, Bharti Airtel’s Managing Director and Vice Chairman, Gopal Vittal, described the partnership as a milestone in next-generation connectivity, underscoring Airtel’s dedication to revolutionizing satellite broadband in India.
Musk’s entry into the Indian telecom and satellite internet sector has been the subject of speculation for months. In October last year, he publicly praised India’s telecom minister, Jyotiraditya Scindia, for opposing the auctioning of satellite spectrum, a stance that was at odds with Ambani and Mittal.
In response to Scindia’s statement that satellite spectrum would not be auctioned, Musk had posted on X:
“Much appreciated! We will do our best to serve the people of India with Starlink.”
The timing of this partnership is particularly notable, as Musk is also expanding his business interests in India. His electric vehicle company, Tesla, has reportedly finalized a 4,000-square-foot showroom in Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex.
Additionally, Musk’s Boring Company, which specializes in tunneling and infrastructure, has shown interest in urban transportation projects in Indian cities such as Mumbai and Bengaluru. His Neuralink venture, which focuses on brain-computer interfaces in the medical sector, is also eyeing opportunities in India’s healthcare industry.
The announcement of Starlink’s entry into India has sparked mixed reactions. Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale was among the first to criticize the development, arguing that it could create a monopoly in the satellite internet market.
“In any other country, this would be blocked as a monopoly. Customers wanting satellite internet will have NO OPTION except Starlink,” he posted on X.
Musk’s global influence remains polarizing. While former US President Donald Trump has hailed him as a “genius,” critics accuse him of spreading misinformation and funding right-wing movements.
His support for far-right parties in Europe, including Germany’s Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), has led to a decline in Tesla’s sales in the region. Musk has also been involved in public feuds with political leaders, including the British Prime Minister and the government of Poland. He has even suggested that the United States should withdraw from NATO, a stance that has drawn significant controversy.
In the United States, Musk has taken on a more direct political role. During the Trump administration, he headed what The New York Times dubbed the “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE)—a unit that reportedly instilled fear among federal employees facing mass layoffs.
Born on June 28, 1971, in Pretoria, South Africa, Musk was raised by his mother, Maye Musk, a model and dietitian, and his father, Errol Musk, an engineer. Displaying an early passion for technology, Musk taught himself to code at the age of 10.
At 17, he moved to Canada and later pursued degrees in physics and economics at the University of Pennsylvania. His entrepreneurial journey began in 1995 when he co-founded Zip2, a web software company. Four years later, he sold it to Compaq for $307 million.
Following this, he co-founded X.com, an online payments company that later became PayPal. In 2002, PayPal was sold to eBay for $1.5 billion, further boosting Musk’s wealth and ambitions.
Determined to revolutionize space exploration, Musk founded SpaceX in 2002 with a vision of colonizing Mars. The company made history by launching the first privately funded rocket to orbit Earth and pioneering reusable rocket technology.
In 2004, Musk joined Tesla Motors (now Tesla, Inc.), leading the company as CEO and transforming electric vehicles into a mainstream reality. Under his leadership, Tesla introduced iconic models such as the Tesla Roadster and Model S.
Expanding his ambitions beyond space and electric vehicles, Musk co-founded Neuralink in 2016, aiming to merge human intelligence with AI. The same year, he launched The Boring Company, focusing on innovative tunneling solutions for urban transportation.
In October 2022, Musk acquired Twitter for $44 billion, and within a year, he rebranded it as X, reshaping the social media landscape.
With Starlink now entering India, Musk has added another milestone to his growing empire. As Tesla, The Boring Company, and Neuralink continue to expand their presence in India’s markets, it remains to be seen how his ventures will shape the country’s technological landscape in the coming years.