SpaceX Uses Telco Partnerships to Extend Starlink to New Markets 

Key Takeaways

• SpaceX has used partnerships with telecom companies to expand Starlink into new markets.
• Starlink’s direct-to-cell service has launched in the U.S. and New Zealand thanks to deals with local operators.
• Agreements with Airtel and Jio could give Starlink a foothold in the Indian market.

As SpaceX’s Starlink extends its reach across the globe, local telecom players have emerged as key partners.

In the U.S., New Zealand, Australia and now India, network operators are tapping Starlink’s satellite constellation to expand internet coverage to places not reached by terrestrial communication systems.

Expanding Into Mobile Communications

The first mobile network to integrate with Starlink’s satellite service was One NZ, which launched its first satellite-powered cell plan in December 2024.

Meanwhile, Starlink T-Mobile went live in the U.S. in February 2025.

In Australia, the country’s two largest operators, Telstra and Optus, have both announced plans to launch similar satellite-to-mobile services.

For now, the service is limited to text messages. However, operators plan to introduce call and video functionality as the technology advances.

Although the technology doesn’t exist today, mobile devices could eventually operate as miniature Starlink terminals for internet connectivity.

Starlink Makes Indian Debut

With Starlink mobile services making headway in the U.S. and Australia, the company recently forged partnerships with two Indian telecommunications companies, potentially securing a foothold in the country.

The country’s largest network operator, Jio, initially lobbied against the telecommunication regulator’s satellite spectrum auction that granted Starlink its initial foothold.

But with the satellite company’s regulatory approval pending, both Jio and its primary rival Airtel India signed deals to distribute Starlink terminals to their customers.

Distribution Partnerships

Distribution partnerships have been crucial to Starlink’s growth as a rural internet provider and have helped it tap into new markets that are underserved by traditional broadband.

In the case of Telstra, an initial agreement to sell Starlink terminals preempted the planned branch into direct-to-mobile services.

With more than 750 million customers between them, if Jio or Airtel pursue a similar approach, Starlink could become a major player in India’s telecommunications market.

Perhaps hinting at such a prospect in a press release , Jio stated that it is “evaluating other complementary areas of cooperation” with SpaceX that would leverage the two firms’ respective infrastructure.