SpaceX Readies Starlink India Launch 32
SpaceX's Starlink has secured its first agreement in India, partnering with telecommunications leader Bharti Airtel to bring high-speed satellite internet to the world's most populous country, the companies announced Tuesday [PDF].
The landmark deal will enable Starlink to tap into Airtel's extensive retail network and ground infrastructure while expanding its global reach into previously underserved regions across India, pending regulatory authorizations.
"We are excited to work with Airtel and unlock the transformative impact Starlink can bring to the people of India," said Gwynne Shotwell, President and Chief Operating Officer of SpaceX. "The team at Airtel has played a pivotal role in India's telecom story, so working with them to complement our direct offering makes great sense for our business."
The collaboration will explore selling Starlink equipment through Airtel's retail stores and offering services to business customers while connecting communities in rural areas with limited connectivity.
The landmark deal will enable Starlink to tap into Airtel's extensive retail network and ground infrastructure while expanding its global reach into previously underserved regions across India, pending regulatory authorizations.
"We are excited to work with Airtel and unlock the transformative impact Starlink can bring to the people of India," said Gwynne Shotwell, President and Chief Operating Officer of SpaceX. "The team at Airtel has played a pivotal role in India's telecom story, so working with them to complement our direct offering makes great sense for our business."
The collaboration will explore selling Starlink equipment through Airtel's retail stores and offering services to business customers while connecting communities in rural areas with limited connectivity.
What A Terrible Headline (Score:3)
What a terrible headline.
It had me wondering why SpaceX would be relying on anyone else to launch Starlink satellites.
Re: (Score:2, Funny)
It IS an odd headline.
But Musk will piss off Modi, and it will all be for naught.
Bezos or an equivalent will slide into place. TechBros will save the day.
Re: (Score:2, Funny)
More like a TechGramps
India Doesn't Trust Starlink (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2, Insightful)
It's surprising that India is allowing it. Normally they are not too keen on foreign tech companies and require things like manufacturing in India before letting them take any significant market share.
Maybe that's what the team-up with this other company is about, but now they have the additional national security concerns of having Musk control internet access for Indian citizens.
Re: (Score:2, Funny)
with the amount of money that changed hands to make this happen, you'd understand why it was signed off on.
Policies and regulations are there to push for bribes... unfortunately, nothing happens in India without multiple wheels getting greased.
Retail service only (Score:3, Interesting)
Except, possibly Russia. After they've completed their takeover of America.
Re: (Score:1)
Re: Retail service only (Score:1)
Well, Israel is now nearly 20% russian, and these support bibi orbanovich felonyahu, so what's the big difference?
Re: (Score:2)
Israel? seriously? Their entire GDP is barely above Musks worth... well, maybe not so close today... after his idiocy. Israels GDP in '24- $558 billion.... Musk in '24- $486 Billion.
They wouldn't be able to own ONE Musk, let alone the rest of the US.... please.. apply some critical thinking.
Re: (Score:3)
Trump has NEVER been "America first". Sometimes he talks that way, but watch his actions.
Re: (Score:3)
Those are a bit vague, but where I can identify what you are talking about, I disagree with your classification.
Re: (Score:3)
This may well have been true when you wrote it, but is it true this morning? This afternoon?
Comments about Musk's net worth should probably be linked to some sort of always- (or rapidly-) updated tracker.
Re: (Score:2, Interesting)
Why would we assume Russia and Israel are enemies? They're not exactly friends but it's more complex than that. (Imagine that, international relations complicated)
Netanyahu’s Diplomacy With Putin Ensured IDF’s Successful Attack on Iran [thedefensepost.com]
Re: (Score:2)
Equally, they're not ludicrously pro-American (so also, pinko-commie subresives etc).
Calling them "Ferengi" may well be taken as a compliment. Cultural referents often work like that.
(I think the F
Re: (Score:2)
Re: Retail service only (Score:2)
All I saw was him stating something like the attacks appearing to originate from Ukraine geographically, but not any kind implication that Ukraine was behind them or that Ukraine would face retaliation.
Yet the media keeps painting it that way anyways, and then they wonder why people like me have a hard time taking them or the Elon hate club seriously. That, and Elon's hate club appear to be fans of Nazism given they like to paint swastikas everywhere, just like the real Nazis did.
Re: (Score:2)
Starlink Worked Great for Ukrane--No Wait... (Score:1)
Re: Starlink Worked Great for Ukrane--No Wait... (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
The swastika, in various forms, goes back to the old stone age. And it meant different things to different groups, but usually had something to do with the sun. (Cf. "widdershins", which basically meant against the light, i.e. in the direction opposite to the path of the shadow of a gnomen.)
Re: (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:1)
Personally, I think people might be painting swastikas on Teslas because Elon Musk is a Nazi.
Only according to the silly Orwellian definition, where free speech, property rights, and blind justice are “fascist colonialist bigoted” tools of “oppressors”.