Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk, the world’s two richest businessmen, are set to compete with Sunil Mittal and Mukesh Ambani in India with satellite-based high-speed broadband internet. The billionaires will compete with Airtel and Jio in the high-speed broadband and internet space. Musk’s satellite internet company Starlink and Bezos had separate talks with India’s Departments of Telecom and Space to begin satellite-based internet connectivity services, but they are open to applying for a licence through the formal route as well.
Sanjay Bhargava has been named India director of Starlink, which Musk co-founded. “Consultants representing the companies have had discussions with us, and they have indicated that they are keen to offer internet services in India using a constellation of satellites,” telecom department sources said. We anticipate that they will apply for the licence very soon.” The telecom department also granted the telecom firm a national long-distance (NLD) licence.
Surprisingly, these satellite-based high-speed broadband internet connections will help connect hard-to-reach dark zones such as remote rural areas and cut-off terrains such as mountains, deserts, and sensitive areas where traditional broadband infrastructure has yet to reach.