Starlink is coming to India, it is different from iPhone satellite texting and Jio plus Airtel AirFiber

Starlink is finally coming to India. But it is also coming in collaboration with Airtel and Jio, both of which have their own wireless broadband service called AirFiber. So, how is the Starlink internet different from Airtel and Jio AirFiber? And how about the iPhone satellite texting feature? All of them are quite different we say.

In Short

• SpaceX partners with Jio, Airtel for satellite internet in India
• Both companies will sell Starlink equipment, leveraging their retail networks
• Right now Starlink is waiting for regulatory approval to start the service in India

Starlink satellite internet service is coming to India. Elon Musk’s aerospace company, SpaceX, has collaborated with Indian telecom providers Jio and Airtel, and will be offering satellite connectivity soon in India. Following the deal, while Airtel plans to use Starlink services to complement its existing offerings, Jio is aiming for a deeper integration of Starlink into its ecosystem. However, both will sell Starlink equipment to customers, making the service accessible through their established retail networks across the country.

The idea and so it seems from what Airtel and Jio have announced is that the two telecoms will use Starlink’s advanced satellite technology to expand internet connectivity in rural and remote regions. However, you might be wondering: both telcos already offer AirFiber connectivity, which they launched to provide internet services in areas where fibre broadband is unavailable, particularly in rural regions. So, how does the existing AirFiber service differ from Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service?

Both AirFiber and Starlink target areas where traditional internet connectivity is difficult to establish. However, the key differences between these two services lie in their underlying technologies, performance, and use cases. Here’s a detailed look at how Starlink internet differs from AirFiber and how each service will benefit Indian users.

What is AirFiber?

The existing AirFiber services in India are wireless broadband services that use 5G networks and advanced Wi-Fi 6 technology to provide high-speed wireless internet to homes and businesses.

In the AirFiber service, both Jio and Airtel rely on their 5G network towers to beam internet signals to a rooftop antenna or indoor device placed in a user’s home. The idea is to direct 5G to a particular area, which has specialised equipment installed, and then use the available bandwidth to provide consistent connection and speed. It is similar to cellular network but unlike cellular, which is diffused, the AirFiber uses concentrated signal strength to deliver superior connectivity.

The device installed at home connects to the nearest tower, which then delivers internet speeds of up to 100200 Mbps with low latency. This service is particularly useful in areas where laying fibre cables is challenging. AirFiber connectivity from both Jio and Airtel is an alternative to fibre broadband, but it is not satellite-based. Instead, it uses wireless 5G connectivity, which in turn is based on a backbone of optical fibre connectivity.

What is Starlink?

Starlink, on the other hand, is completely different. It is a satellite internet service that is beamed to earth by SpaceX satellites. It uses low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites designed to deliver high-speed broadband ranging from 25200 Mbps with low latency on a global scale. As of 27 February 2025, there are around 7,086 Starlink satellites in orbit, of which 7,052 are operational. Starlink aims to connect users in the most isolated regions whether in mountains, the middle of the sea, deep jungles, or other remote locations.

The way it works is simple. You install an antenna on the ground or roof of your house with the widest possible view of the sky. The view of the sky is the key here and that is why the Starlink antenna, which looks like the dish TV antenna, can’t be placed in a location where the view is hindered by trees or tall buildings.

Starlink satellites connect to this antenna on the ground, and once connected beam internet connectivity. For end users, and their devices such as laptops and phones, the entire connection just works like a regular WiFi connection. Irrespective of cloud or weather conditions, the Starlink connectivity is stable and uninterrupted.

Can Starlink offer direct connectivity to a phone?

Simple answer: Not yet.

In the last one year or so we have started seeing some phones most notably the iPhone coming with a feature that uses satellites to offer the ability to text from or make calls from remote areas.

Now, that service is different. An iPhone 16 Pro using satellite to send texts or making and receiving calls is similar to good-old satellite phones. A satellite phone doesn’t use cellular connection or WiFi. Instead, it uses a specialised network offered by some companies that manage and operate certain satellites for direct connectivity.

In principle, the satellite phone and Starlink are similar. But the way they have been implemented is different. While satellite phones are extremely specialised tools, and are often used with limited and low speed connectivity, Starlink is similar to regular WiFi connection. Hence, it can be used by any device that can connect to WiFi, including phones and laptops. It is just that unlike regular WiFi, which relies on wired internet, Starlink relies on satellite connectivity.

So, will Starlink never be available directly on a phone?

Never say never. A network is a network and it can be used in different ways. Currently, Starlink is mostly used as a backbone behind a local WiFi network. But it is beginning to change. Recently, in the US, Apple, T-Mobile and Starlink got into a partnership where the latest iPhones iPhone 16 series will get limited satellite connectivity using the T-Mobile network. This, behind the scenes, will be powered by Starlink.

Now, it is possible that in India too similar service might be offered through collaboration with Jio, Airtel and Starlink. But so far neither Jio nor Airtel have talked about it. Instead, they have talked about how they will sell Starlink equipment read the Starlink antenna in India. This sounds like the regular Starlink service and not the one that directly beams internet to phones.

But it might happen. And if it does, chances are that most of the high-end phones would be supported, including the iPhone, latest Pixels and the latest Galaxies. It’s just that the entire satellite connectivity on phones is still in early days and currently there is no good estimate as to when it will be available in India largely due to regulatory concerns. For example, the emergency satellite texting available on iPhone 16 series is yet to be enabled in India because of regulatory concerns. But whenever it happens we will be here to tell you more about it.