Teaching Notes: Starlink in India: disrupting connectivity or daring gamble?

Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet initiative, is expanding into India’s massive digital market of over 950 million users. While poised to bridge the rural-urban digital divide, the company faces severe challenges, particularly from a premium price architecture that is 10–14 times more expensive than entrenched local alternatives. To navigate strict domestic telecom regulations and accelerate market entry, Starlink strategically pivoted from an independent model to horizontal partnerships with telecom giants Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel. However, these same partners are actively developing their own rival satellite networks, threatening to lessen their reliance on SpaceX over time. Ultimately, Starlink’s expansion hinges on...