logo
India grants license to Musk's Starlink

India grants license to Musk's Starlink

Arab News18-06-2025
NEW DELHI: New Delhi had granted a license to Elon Musk's Starlink satellite Internet service, opening India's 'next frontier of connectivity,' according to the country's communications minister.
The launch of Starlink, which provides high-speed Internet access to remote locations using low Earth orbit satellites, has sparked fierce debate in India over issues ranging from predatory pricing to spectrum allocation.
Communications minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said he held a 'productive meeting' with Gwynne Shotwell, president and chief operating officer of Starlink owner SpaceX.
Shotwell 'appreciated the license granted to Starlink, calling it a great start to the journey,' the minister said late Tuesday on Musk-owned social media platform X.
It follows two of India's biggest telecom service providers – Jio Platforms and its rival Bharti Airtel – in March announcing deals with SpaceX to offer Starlink Internet to their customers.
SpaceX owner Musk has butted heads with Asia's richest man and Jio Platforms owner Mukesh Ambani over how the satellite spectrum should be awarded.
While Musk's business interests in India are currently limited to X, the tech mogul's electric vehicle maker Tesla is preparing its entry into the country.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Tesla Struggles as Profits Plunge and Promises Fall Short
Tesla Struggles as Profits Plunge and Promises Fall Short

ArabGT

time6 hours ago

  • ArabGT

Tesla Struggles as Profits Plunge and Promises Fall Short

Elon Musk's Tesla may be facing its most significant reckoning yet. As financial losses mount and ambitious future projects remain stuck in the planning phase, many are wondering: has the Tesla bubble finally started to deflate? A Troubling Quarter for Tesla In its Q2 2025 earnings report, Tesla stunned investors with a steep 16% year-over-year drop in automotive revenue—from $19.9 billion to $16.7 billion. Overall company revenue fell to $22.5 billion, marking a 12% decline. The figures were more than disappointing—they signaled a fundamental shift in Tesla's performance trajectory. Worse yet, gross profits fell to $3.9 billion, a 15% dip compared to the same period last year. While earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) held at $3.4 billion (down 7%), the results reflected a weakening profit engine. High Hopes, Little Progress Investors had been clinging to hope in Tesla's forward-looking ventures, including the long-teased second-generation Roadster and the highly anticipated Robotaxi program. But the earnings report cast doubt on these lifelines. The Roadster remains in the early design stage, while the Robotaxi pilot in Austin lacks a solid business model and has yet to generate revenue. Sales Slide Adds to Pressure Compounding Tesla's troubles, sales of its mainstays—the Model 3 and Model Y—fell by 12%, totaling just 373,728 units. Deliveries of premium models like the Cybertruck, Model S, and Model X dropped an alarming 52%, falling to 10,394 units. These steep declines underscore Tesla's risky dependence on a narrow product lineup without meaningful diversification. Avoiding the Elephant in the Room Tesla's leadership attributed the slump to regulatory headwinds, lower average selling prices, and intensifying competition. However, the company sidestepped two increasingly pressing issues: the polarizing political activity of CEO Elon Musk, which has clouded the company's once-sterile image, and the global rise in interest rates, which is hurting consumer affordability and investor enthusiasm. Why the Roadster and Robotaxi Won't Save Tesla—Yet Though packed with futuristic promise, neither the Roadster nor the Robotaxi service are close to becoming financial game-changers. The Roadster is still a design on paper, and the Robotaxi—despite its pilot rollout—lacks a working revenue model. Tesla's Core Challenges Rising Competition: Chinese rival BYD continues to expand aggressively in Europe, tightening its grip on market share as Tesla stalls. Global Economic Strains: Inflation and high interest rates are cutting into consumer spending power and weakening demand for premium electric vehicles. Brand Image Turbulence: Musk's public behavior and political entanglements are alienating core consumer bases and tarnishing Tesla's neutral tech-forward brand. Cybertruck Setbacks: Dismal delivery numbers suggest fundamental issues in both the truck's design and production pipeline, belying the media hype. A Pivotal Crossroads The real race isn't just about tomorrow's electric dream—it's about maintaining today's dominance. Tesla's visionary projects won't be enough to stabilize its current finances. To avoid becoming a casualty of its own hype, Tesla must act fast: rethink pricing, expand its product strategy, and win back consumer trust. Otherwise, the company might be writing the first chapter in the story of its own bubble burst.

GO Telecom inks framework pact with Syrian communications ministry
GO Telecom inks framework pact with Syrian communications ministry

Argaam

time16 hours ago

  • Argaam

GO Telecom inks framework pact with Syrian communications ministry

Etihad Atheeb Telecommunication Co. (GO Telecom) signed today, July 24, a five-year framework agreement with Syria's Ministry of Communications and Technology. The project's total value is expected to reach SAR 1.96 billion, the telco said in a statement to Tadawul. The agreement aims to enhance Syria's digital infrastructure through two data centers, a cybersecurity hub, cloud and disaster recovery systems, and a tech platform to support digital transformation. GO Telecom will train and qualify a ministry-appointed team to manage the project, in line with the technical specifications and obligations outlined in the agreement. The financial mechanism will be executed through separate contracts with the funding entity, GO Telecom noted, adding that the impact cannot yet be assessed and updates will be provided in due course. The actual scope, value, and payment schedule will be determined through work orders added to the agreement later.

Trump says he wants Musk and his companies to thrive in US
Trump says he wants Musk and his companies to thrive in US

Al Arabiya

time17 hours ago

  • Al Arabiya

Trump says he wants Musk and his companies to thrive in US

President Donald Trump said on Thursday he would not destroy Elon Musk's companies by taking away federal subsidies and said he wants the billionaire tech-entrepreneur's businesses to thrive. 'Everyone is stating that I will destroy Elon's companies by taking away some, if not all, of the large scale subsidies he receives from the US Government. This is not so!' Trump said in a social media post. 'I want Elon, and all businesses within our Country, to THRIVE.' The statement follows Musk's warning to Tesla investors on Wednesday that US government cuts in support for electric vehicle makers could lead to a 'few rough quarters' for the company. Musk spent more than a quarter of a billion dollars to help Trump win November's presidential election and led the Department of Government Efficiency's chaotic effort to slash the budget and cut the federal workforce. The Tesla CEO left the administration in late May to refocus on his tech empire. Trump and Musk fell out shortly afterward when Musk openly denounced the Republican president's tax-cut and spending bill, leading to threats by Trump to cancel billions of dollars worth of federal government contracts with Musk's companies.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store