Discussion How India will handle significantly higher costing of Satellite internet?

Bapun · 2025-03-13T11:24:43+0530

Currently, Starlink’s hardware costs range between ₹25,000-₹35,000, with a monthly subscription estimated at ₹5,000-₹7,000. This is significantly higher than India’s average broadband cost of ₹700-₹1,500 per month. For widespread adoption, SpaceX may need to introduce India-specific pricing or partner with government-backed digital inclusion programmes.

Reliance joins the race: Jio signs deal to bring SpaceX's Starlink internet to India after Airtel's pact

Jio Platforms has signed an agreement with Elon Musks SpaceX to offer Starlinks satellite-based internet services in India. This move follows a similar partnership between Bharti Airtel and Starlink. The deal is subject to regulatory approval, but it signals a major shift in Indias internet...

economictimes.indiatimes.com

Athreya B N · 2025-03-13T11:44:12+0530

Bapun said:
Currently, Starlink’s hardware costs range between ₹25,000-₹35,000, with a monthly subscription estimated at ₹5,000-₹7,000. This is significantly higher than India’s average broadband cost of ₹700-₹1,500 per month. For widespread adoption, SpaceX may need to introduce India-specific pricing or partner with government-backed digital inclusion programmes.

Can this be possible?
I think what Jio and Airtel will do for competitive and cheap pricing is they'll receive the signals from satellite to ODU and from single ODU they'll give give 3-4 connections to people nearby. Similarly they'll give connections by installing ODUs as per requirement nearby people's location. Similar to OFC fatbox and connections concept. Already Jio is doing with Airfiber in apartments from single ODU giving multiple connections.

Zuke · 2025-03-13T14:41:41+0530

Athreya B N said:
Can this be possible?
I think what Jio and Airtel will do for competitive and cheap pricing is they'll receive the signals from satellite to ODU and from single ODU they'll give give 3-4 connections to people nearby. Similarly they'll give connections by installing ODUs as per requirement nearby people's location. Similar to OFC fatbox and connections concept. Already Jio is doing with Airfiber in apartments from single ODU giving multiple connections.

That might be useful only for few places with people who got money and really need decent internet, wouldn't it.

Otherwise, there will be only one or two people from a single area who would be thinking about getting it due to the pricing, unless Jio and Airtel make the cost a lot lesser.

Shark · 2025-03-13T14:51:23+0530

Wrong title, Why India will handle higher costing?
There is currently no need of satellite internet in India. 5G service and Fiber are enough for us.

Zuke · 2025-03-13T15:07:36+0530

Shark said:
Wrong title, Why India will handle higher costing?
There is currently no need of satellite internet in India. 5G service and Fiber are enough for us.

Yeah, there is no "need" for it. But it will be useful for plenty of people and businesses, who probably can afford it. Not for us, the regular people.

Bapun · 2025-03-13T15:17:50+0530

Shark said:
Wrong title, Why India will handle higher costing?

The thread title is fine. India refers to Indian government.

The below part in post #1 talks about support required from government to give the service a push.

Bapun said:
For widespread adoption, SpaceX may need to introduce India-specific pricing or partner with government-backed digital inclusion programmes.

Ashu3 · 2025-03-13T17:29:42+0530

Shark said:
Wrong title, Why India will handle higher costing?
There is currently no need of satellite internet in India. 5G service and Fiber are enough for us.

b2b. for mobile operators for extending their coverage without or minimal need of infra.

Athreya B N · 2025-03-14T00:45:14+0530

Ashu3 said:
b2b. for mobile operators for extending their coverage without or minimal need of infra.

Exactly

Athreya B N · 2025-03-14T00:49:10+0530

Shark said:
Wrong title, Why India will handle higher costing?
There is currently no need of satellite internet in India. 5G service and Fiber are enough for us.

There's no Fiber availability from big brands still in tier 2 as well, forget about Tier 3 then. Regarding 5g, some locations are for namesake 5g neither stable in internet nor in coverage. Some villages haven't got 5g yet and as per latest updates of big telecos they've slowed down 5g infra roll outs and taking cautious steps and went back to improve 4g network. In that case this satellite broadband helps.

Ashok Varma · 2025-03-14T07:47:34+0530

Factories, schools, colleges and banks in villages are waiting for fast internet (satellite) instead of BSNL's wireless leasedline of 2 mbps to 10 mbps. So, space fiber will adversely impact BSNL broadband and leasedline business in rural areas.