iWorld
Airtel signs up with SpaceX to bring Starlink services to India
MUMBAI; In a dramatic move set to shake up India’s telecommunications landscape, Airtel has today inked an agreement with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to bring Starlink’s lightning-fast internet services to the subcontinent.
The landmark deal—the first of its kind in India—hinges on SpaceX securing regulatory approvals to peddle Starlink services in the country. Once green-lit, the partnership promises to dramatically expand high-speed connectivity to even the most far-flung corners of India.
Under the ambitious arrangement, Airtel shops could soon display Starlink equipment, whilst the telecom giant will offer Starlink services to its business customers. The collaboration aims to connect remote communities, schools and health centres currently languishing in digital darkness.
Airtel and SpaceX will also explore how Starlink could help expand and enhance the Airtel network, as well as SpaceX’s ability to utilise and benefit from Airtel’s ground network infrastructure and other capabilities in India.
Airtel managing director Gopal Vittal hailed the partnership as a “significant milestone” in the company’s quest to deliver “world-class high-speed broadband to even the most remote parts of India.”
“This collaboration enhances our ability to ensure that every individual, business, and community has reliable internet,” Vittal declared. “Starlink will complement and enhance Airtel’s suite of products to ensure reliable and affordable broadband for our Indian customers—wherever they live and work.”
“Technology is always evolving and we’re committed to staying at the forefront of innovation so that we can continue to bring the best connectivity experience for our customers. This includes collaborating with global leaders like SpaceX to extend our reach and add new coverage to customers throughout all of India.”
SpaceX’s President Gwynne Shotwell matched Vittal’s enthusiasm, stating: “We are excited to work with Airtel and unlock the transformative impact Starlink can bring to the people of India. We are constantly amazed by the incredible and inspiring things that people, businesses and organizations do when they are connected via Starlink. The team at Airtel has played a pivotal role in India’s telecom story, so working with them to complement our direct offering makes great sense for our business.”
The deal represents a clever strategic move for Airtel, which already boasts over 550 million customers across 15 countries. By adding Starlink to its portfolio alongside existing partner Eutelsat OneWeb, Airtel strengthens its position as India’s largest integrated communications solutions provider.
Starlink, which operates the world’s first and largest low Earth orbit satellite constellation, delivers broadband internet capable of supporting streaming, gaming and video calls to users worldwide. The service is engineered and operated by SpaceX, the world’s leading rocket launch provider.
The collaboration signals a new chapter in India’s digital transformation saga, potentially bridging the stubborn digital divide that has long hampered the nation’s development ambition
iWorld
Sony LIV acquires worldwide digital rights for Marathi romance Toh Ti Ani Fuji
Film shot in Japan and India to stream exclusively on the platform from 10 April 2026.
MUMBAI: Love knows no language, but this Marathi romance is about to speak to audiences far beyond its roots and it’s doing so with a scenic detour through Japan. Sony Pictures Networks India has acquired the worldwide digital rights for the Marathi-language romance feature Toh Ti Ani Fuji (also known as Main, Woh Aur Fuji), with an exclusive direct-to-digital release on Sony Liv scheduled for 10 April 2026. Sony Pictures Networks India will retain exclusive worldwide theatrical and linear rights.
Filmed extensively in Japan and India, the film marks an unprecedented Marathi-language romance set on an international canvas. It explores how relationships evolve under the pressures of distance, time, and shifting emotional realities, using Japan not merely as a backdrop but as an emotional landscape that mirrors the characters’ inner journeys.
Written by Irawati Karnik and directed by Mohit Takalkar, the story follows a deeply passionate relationship that gradually turns toxic due to contrasting personalities, shifting priorities, and unfair emotional expectations. Seven years after their separation, the former couple unexpectedly reunite in Japan, reopening old wounds and unspoken desires while questioning whether love altered by time can ever find its way back.
Producer Shiladitya Bora said the partnership with Sony Pictures Networks India reflects the growing belief that “regional is the new mainstream.” He added that the film’s multi-language digital release on Sony LIV will help it connect with newer audiences across India and the world.
Director Mohit Takalkar described the film as an exploration of how love changes in today’s urban world, shaped by ambition, geography, and the pressure to evolve. “It began as a very personal exploration of relationships, and to see it reaching a wider audience feels deeply satisfying,” he noted.
Actors Lalit Prabhakar and Mrinmayee Godbole highlighted the film’s intimate yet universal take on love, separation, and rediscovery. Godbole particularly praised how filming in Japan added a global dimension while keeping the story deeply personal.
From a toxic romance that travels from India to Japan and back, Toh Ti Ani Fuji promises an emotionally layered story that feels both specific and universal. For Sony LIV viewers, this first-of-its-kind Marathi film offers a chance to experience love, loss, and second chances with a refreshing international flavour.
The film streams exclusively on Sony LIV from 10 April 2026.
