Drawing investor attention amid reports of a potential tie up with Elon Musk’s Starlink, RailTel emerges in market spotlight.
Shares of RailTel Corporation of India are set to remain in focus after reports said the state owned telecom firm is in talks with Elon Musk backed Starlink to explore a potential partnership ahead of the satellite internet provider’s planned India launch.
According to a LiveMint report, RailTel is among Indian companies engaging with Starlink and may look to offer retail broadband services using the satellite based internet platform. If finalised, the partnership could significantly expand RailTel’s reach beyond the railway network and strengthen its presence in underserved regions.
RailTel currently operates one of the world’s largest public WiFi networks, providing free internet access at more than 6,000 railway stations across India. It also manages IP based surveillance systems at over 5,000 stations. The company has close to 6,00,000 subscribers, with nearly 58 per cent based in rural areas, and works with more than 11,000 partners for on ground installation and servicing.
The company’s extensive rural footprint makes it a natural partner for Starlink, whose India strategy is expected to focus on last mile connectivity. While Starlink relies on satellites for internet delivery, it requires ground gateways across the country to ensure stable connections. RailTel could support this by offering dark fibre or managed capacity, along with network operations, monitoring and security services.
If the discussions lead to a formal tie up, RailTel could extend connectivity to off corridor villages, hilly and forested regions, islands and border areas without waiting for fibre deployment.
RailTel currently has almost 6,00,000 subscribers, with 58% of its customers belonging to rural areas of India. The company also has over 11,000 partners doing on‑ground installation and servicing.
