Page 49 - SAMENA Trends - May 2025

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Spacecoin in Talks with Telcos to Launch Cheap Satellite Internet in India

Florida-based satellite communications quoted in the report. The company expects the Department of Telecommunications.
company Spacecoin is set to enter the to finalise its first telecom partnership Starlink has signed distribution tie-ups with
Indian market later this year, offering low- in India later this year. "Indian telcos Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio. Spacecoin
bandwidth internet services priced at are interested in Spacecoin's satellite launched its first satellite with SpaceX
under Rs 200 per month. The company technology to compete with SpaceX's in December 2024 and plans to deploy
aims to provide cheap satellite-based Starlink internet service," Tae Oh reportedly three more in October 2025. The company
connectivity in remote and underserved added. "They also want to compete with envisions building a constellation of low-
regions, directly targeting areas where SpaceX to provide good enough coverage Earth orbit (LEO) nanosatellites to offer
traditional telecom infrastructure is difficult for people who cannot be serviced. We global coverage. It expects to provide
to deploy. Unlike Starlink, which offers high- don't plan to go directly to customers in satcom services across the globe with
speed satellite broadband, Spacecoin is India. We are hoping to work with existing fewer than 10 satellites. "About 10 or fewer
focusing on basic internet services such telcos." The service is expected to start at satellites can be a good starting point to
as financial access, messaging, and web approximately USD 2 (Rs 170) per month, let people experience the service. After
browsing. The company's founder, Tae Oh, with pricing increasing based on data reaching ten satellites, we can start scaling.
told Moneycontrol that Spacecoin plans consumption. Billing will be handled by Hundreds of thousands of satellites will
to operate through a partnership model local telecom companies, who will pay be in the project," Tae Oh said, according
with Indian telecom providers rather than Spacecoin for data transmission over its to the report. The satellite network will be
offering services directly to consumers. "We satellite network. Spacecoin's India launch part of a blockchain-enabled Decentralised
are in talks with several telecom companies comes amid rising interest from global Physical Infrastructure Network (DePIN),
in India, doing the co-engineering of the players in the satellite communications allowing other entities — including telecom
service. We are also interested in working (satcom) market. Starlink, Amazon's Project firms, militaries, and governments — to
with the existing telcos to provide our Kuiper, Eutelsat OneWeb, and Globalstar launch and operate their own satellites
satellite services to their users. We were are all eyeing the Indian market. Some, within the Spacecoin framework, sharing in
getting a lot of positive feedback from including Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio's joint data transmission revenues.
those telcos about the demand in people venture with SES, have already received
of India in remote areas," Tae Oh said, as necessary clearances from IN-SPACe and

Airtel Africa to Add Starlink to Service Portfolio in 14 Markets

Airtel Africa announced that it has signed Starlink has applied for licences in Airtel’s Starlink’s cellular backhaul capabilities to
a deal with SpaceX to bring Starlink’s LEO other five African markets: Tanzania, Ugan- expand its terrestrial mobile networks to
satellite internet services to customers in da, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo and rural areas, while SpaceX will seek ways to
all 14 African countries where Airtel oper- the Seychelles. Airtel Africa said it plans leverage Airtel Africa’s ground network in-
ates – at least once Starlink has licences to use Starlink’s LEO satellites to enhance frastructure and other capabilities in Africa.
to operate in them. Airtel Africa noted that its next-generation satellite connectivity Airtel Africa and SpaceX will also continue
Starlink currently has licences in nine Airtel offerings and augment connectivity for to explore other areas to promote digital
markets: Nigeria, Kenya, Zambia, Malawi, enterprises, businesses, schools, health inclusion in the continent, said Airtel Afri-
Rwanda, Niger, Chad, Madagascar and the centres in even the most rural parts of Af- ca MD and CEO Sunil Taldar. “Next-gener-
Democratic Republic of Congo. Meanwhile, rica. Airtel will also explore ways to use ation satellite connectivity will ensure that
every individual, business and community
have reliable and affordable voice and data
connectivity even in the most remote and
currently underserved parts of Africa,” he
said in a statement. Chad Gibbs, SpaceX’s
VP of Starlink business operations, added
that Starlink is available in more than 20 Af-
rican markets. “This agreement with Airtel
highlights how, once licensed, Starlink wel-
comes the opportunity to join forces with
important industry leaders to ensure as
many people as possible can benefit from
Starlink’s presence,” he said.

49 MAY 2025