Vodafone Idea in talks with Musk's Starlink? Telco clarifies

Telecom company Vodafone Idea Ltd on Wednesday issued a clarification regarding its ongoing discussions with satellite communication providers, including Starlink, following a surge in its share price.

The company stated that these discussions are part of its routine business strategy aimed at enhancing service quality and expanding its telecommunications offerings, after media reports of potential collaboration. "We are in exploratory talks with various Satcom providers, including Starlink," the telco said in information to the exchanges.

Cash-strapped Vodafone Idea closed at Rs 7.45, up 4.93% on Wednesday.


Commenting on the recent partnerships of Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio with Starlink, Vi's chief technology officer Jagbir Singh told ET: “We are in conversations with partners and will share an update at an appropriate time.”

Earlier this month, Bharti Airtel and Ambani's Jio announced agreements with Elon Musk-led Starlink to bring 'superfast' internet services to India.

Additionally, the Company highlighted the recent launch of its 5G services in Mumbai, which it said is a factor contributing to the stock price fluctuations observed today.

With Musk’s Starlink potentially shaking up the broadband and mobile data space, the Indian telecom landscape is becoming a two-horse race between Jio and Airtel, while Vi tries to catch breath. The two giants are already leading the herd with robust 4G and 5G offerings, while Vi lags behind, still stuck in 5G rollout.

Also Read: Reliance Jio and Airtel link up with the Star while Vodafone Idea will face the heat on earth

Musk’s Starlink brings a whole new level of competition, particularly in rural and remote areas where Vi might have seen some hope for expansion. Starlink’s satellite-based internet eliminates the need for extensive physical infrastructure, allowing Jio and Airtel to offer ultra-fast connectivity even in areas where Vi has traditionally held ground.