
Vodafone Idea’s 5G rollout comes with a side of satellite internet FOMO
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. New Delhi: Vodafone Idea Ltd is discussing ways to catch up with larger rivals Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel Ltd in the domestic satellite internet race, even as it is set to roll out its 5G cellular broadband network. Jio and Airtel recently announced partnerships with US-based Starlink Services to roll out Elon Musk’s satellite internet service in India, although they will have to wait for government approvals.
Vodafone Idea, India’s third-largest telecom service provider, may look to offer services enabled by satellite internet such as high-speed internet in remote areas where fiber cables needed for fixed-line broadband are not yet available, said chief technology officer Jagbir Singh. “There are some internal discussions ongoing (on launching satellite internet services)," Singh told Mint in an interview. "There are open questions like the cost of the devices and regulatory approvals on using satellite for terrestrial connectivity." That said, Vodafone Idea doesn’t have any partnerships in the satellite internet space, unlike Jio and Airtel.
Apart from the Starlink partnership, Jio has a joint venture with Luxembourg-based SES and Airtel with London-based Eutelsat One Web to offer satellite internet in India. Vodafone Idea is launching its 5G services in key Indian cities beginning Wednesday, more than two years after its rivals kicked off their high-speed cellular networks. In the December quarter, the telecom operator’s subscriber base declined 7.1% from a year earlier to 199.8 million, although it managed to narrow its net loss to ₹6,609 crore from ₹6,986 crore.
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