Starlink delivers high-speed, low-latency satellite internet by utilising a vast constellation of satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Till now, Starlink has been known to provide exceptional internet connectivity around the world.

It is now announced that the Starlink team is exploring ways to extend connectivity beyond Earth.

The Starlink team is exploring ways to extend connectivity beyond our planet pic.twitter.com/MJLKNvWdxK

— Starlink (@Starlink) May 21, 2026

Starlink has also shared some conceptual designs for interplanetary connectivity, focusing on a lunar relay system to provide gigabit speeds for rovers, habitats and astronauts on the Moon’s surface.

In the above images and demo video, orbital relay shells around Earth and the Moon are seen linked by laser or radio beams, alongside surface terminals featuring tall, illuminated antennas. In the future, this development could help in supporting crewed missions in space. It is said that currently, the SpaceX and Starlink teams are laying the groundwork for this vision to support future human settlements on the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

Today’s announcement signals early development toward seamless data links between Earth and lunar operations. In the coming days, the company is expected to shed some more light in the development of this interplanetary connectivity mission.

Stay tuned with The Tech Outlook for all the latest updates.

The post Starlink’s team currently exploring ways to extend connectivity beyond Earth appeared first on The Tech Outlook.

Bharti Airtel, in its latest offering, has announced the launch of a new ‘Priority Postpaid’ service, which is designed to deliver a superior and more dependable 5G network experience for its postpaid customers.

Read more about it below.

Airtel ‘Priority Postpaid’ in India

As per the details shared by Airtel, the company has become the first telecom operator in India to offer a 5G network with advanced slicing capabilities that intelligently and dynamically segment network capacity in order to deliver a more stable and seamless experience, even during periods of high traffic demand.

To note, this service is currently limited to postpaid users only and with this latest rollout, India has now joined countries such as the USA, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and Malaysia, where 5G slicing capabilities are already available.

Talking about the availability, existing Airtel postpaid users will be able to enjoy this service automatically. However, new users and prepaid customers can either activate it through the Airtel Thanks app or by visiting a nearby Airtel store. Additionally, the service is compatible across all 5G SA-enabled smartphones running the latest software updates.

Below is the list of Airtel’s Priority Postpaid plans and their included benefits.

The post Bharti Airtel Launches ‘Priority Postpaid’ with Advanced Slicing Capabilities, Becoming the First Indian Telecom Operator to Do So appeared first on The Tech Outlook.

In an announcement, Vodafone Idea has launched three new flexible international roaming packs with 7-day, 14-day, and 21-day validity periods to offer its postpaid users more choices, bringing the total to 17 distinct international roaming packs.

Read more about it below.

Vi postpaid users will now get the option to choose from pack durations starting from short 1-day validity plans, going all the way up to 30 days. These provide tailored validity options with various multi-day plans for mid-to-long duration travellers, along with built-in mechanisms that help protect against unexpected bill shocks.

Furthermore, Vi is currently the only telecom operator offering truly unlimited voice and data benefits across 41 key travel destination countries. Those interested can purchase these international roaming packs via the Vi application.

Below is the list of packs along with the validity and data benefits that users will get.

The post Vodafone Idea Launches Three New 7 Days, 14 Days, and 21 Days International Roaming Packs for Postpaid Customers; Check Out More Below appeared first on The Tech Outlook.

Are you also a fan of watching online shows and videos available on OTT platforms? If yes, then Jio’s new Mega Content Add-on plan could just be the right choice for you.

Here are the details

Jio’s Rs 200 Mega Content Add-on plan

This plan is priced at Rs 200, comes with 28 days of validity and provides 5GB total data. With this pack, users get access to Jio Apps and various other OTT platforms:

• YouTube Premium
• Prime Video Mobile
• JioHotstar
• Sony LIV
• Zee5
• Lionsgate Play
• Discovery+
• Sun NXT
• Kanchha Lannka
• Planet Marathi
• Chaupal
• Hoichoi
• FanCode
• JioTV
• JioAICloud

Subscription to YouTube Premium, Amazon Prime Video Mobile edition can be activated via MyJio. Access SonyLIV, Zee5, SunNXT, Lionsgate Play, Discovery+, Kanchha Lannka, Planet Marathi, Chaupal, FanCode and Hoichoi via JioTV mobile app.

While users can get a subscription to JioHotstar Mobile+ Hollywood via a coupon code, under MyJio-Coupon-My Winning.

This pack contains only data benefits, and instead of extending users’ budget, they now get rich digital experiences through a compact pack. The individual purchase of these OTT platforms would result in a higher cost, but Jio offers them together for just Rs 200. You can activate this plan via the MyJio app or the Jio website.

The post Enjoy subscriptions to various OTT platforms with Jio’s new Rs 200 Mega Content Add-on plan appeared first on The Tech Outlook.

Yesterday, both Google and Apple officially announced that they have led a cross-industry effort to bring end-to-end encryption to Rich Communication Services (RCS), making the cross-platform messaging format that replaces traditional SMS more secure and private.

End-to-end encrypted RCS messaging begins rolling out in beta for iPhone users running iOS 26.5 with supported carriers and Android users on the latest version of Google Messages. For Android users, the E2EE RCS messaging is available on devices that support the RCS standard and have end-to-end encryption enabled.

When RCS messages are end-to-end encrypted, they can’t be read while they are sent between devices. Apple users will know that a conversation is end-to-end encrypted when they see a new lock icon in their RCS chats. Meanwhile, Google Messages users will know a cross-platform conversation is end-to-end encrypted when they see the same lock icon.

Encryption is enabled by default and will automatically be enabled over time for new and existing RCS conversations.

Stay tuned with The Tech Outlook for the latest tech updates.

The post Google and Apple begin rolling out end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging for Android and iPhone users appeared first on The Tech Outlook.

Recently, Reliance Jio has introduced a new “4G Feature Phone Plan” category that focuses on the company’s feature phone users. These plans offer multiple benefits and come with a revised pricing structure.

Jio 4G Feature Phone plans

• Rs 123- 28 days validity, 14GB total data (0.5GB/ day), unlimited voice calling and 300 SMS
• Rs 234- 56 days validity, 28GB total data (0.5GB/day), unlimited voice calling and 300 SMS/ 28 days
• Rs 369- 84 days validity, 42GB total data (0.5GB/day), unlimited voice calling and 300 SMS/ 28 days
• Rs 1234- 336 days validity, 168GB total data (0.5GB/day), unlimited voice calling and 300 SMS/ 28 days

All the above plans come with JioSaavn and JioTV subscriptions. Additionally, the company has also launched various 4G Feature Phone data add-on plans.

4G Feature Phone data add-on plans

• Rs 26- 2GB data, 28 days validity
• Rs 62- 6GB data. 28 days validity
• Rs 86- 14GB data (0.5 GB/day), 28 days validity
• Rs 122- 28GB data (1 GB/day), 28 days validity
• Rs 182- 56GB data (2GB/day), 28 days validity

Other than this, the telecom company has also introduced a Rs 21 recharge plan aimed at users who purchase a new 4G feature phone. The plan offers unlimited voice calls, 0.5GB data per day, and 15 SMS. It comes with only 4 days’ validity.

In related news, Jio has also removed its earlier Rs 91 plan, and now the baseline recharge pricing starts from the Rs 123 plan for Jio users.

The post Reliance Jio introduces new 4G Feature Phone plans and 4G Feature Phone data add-on plans; Rs 21 plan for new buyers of 4G feature phone also unveiled appeared first on The Tech Outlook.

Yesterday, we reported that several users in the Delhi region received “Extremely Severe Alerts” SMS messages on their phones. But there was nothing to worry about, as these alerts were part of the emergency alert system run by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).

It has now been revealed that this ‘Test Message’ was a part of a newly developed Indigenous Cell Broadcast System run by the Government of India. Currently, pan-India testing of this system is underway.

Pan-testing of the Indigenous Cell Broadcast System

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications, in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Government of India, is actively enhancing a mobile-based disaster communication system across the country to ensure the timely dissemination of critical information to all citizens.

NDMA has successfully operationalised the Integrated Alert System (SACHET), developed by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), the premier R&D centre of the DoT. The system is based on the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP), and is currently operational across all 36 States and Union Territories of India and delivers disaster and management-related alerts via SMS to mobile users within geo-targeted areas.

According to the press release issued by the government, to further strengthen alert dissemination in time-critical situations, such as tsunamis, earthquakes, lightning strikes, and man-made emergencies like gas leaks or chemical hazards, Cell Broadcast technology has been introduced alongside SMS. In a Cell Broadcast System, alerts are transmitted to all mobile devices within a defined geographic area simultaneously, ensuring near real-time delivery of the alerts.

As part of the pan-India rollout and the launch of the Cell Broadcast facility, nationwide testing and trials are currently being conducted to assess the system’s performance and reliability prior to its formal inauguration and dedication to the nation.

During this period, members of the public will receive test messages in English, Hindi and regional languages on their mobile devices. These ‘test messages’ will only be received on mobile devices with Cell Broadcast test channels enabled. Users can enable or disable alerts through the following menu path on their mobile devices: Settings> Safety and emergency> Wireless emergency alerts> Test alerts.

Recipients may receive multiple messages as part of the testing process, and since these messages are part of a planned nationwide testing exercise, they do not require any action by the recipients.

After the successful completion of this testing, the CB system will be used to disseminate alerts in multiple Indian languages across all mobile handsets, regardless of test channel settings, ensuring a wide and inclusive public reach during actual emergencies. DoT has requested the cooperation of the public during this important testing phase.

The post Government of India starts pan-India testing of the Indigenous Cell Broadcast System for Rapid Disaster Alerts appeared first on The Tech Outlook.

Reliance Jio has introduced a new prepaid plan called the Youth & Gaming plan priced at Rs 459. This plan is designed for users who spend a lot of time on gaming, streaming and social media.

Rs 459 Youth & Gaming Plan

The plan offers a total of 61GB of data, including 2GB per day, plus an additional 5GB of high-speed data. After the high-speed data is exhausted, the speed drops to 64kbps. This plan provides unlimited voice calling and 100 SMS per day.

Jio has bundled multiple digital subscriptions with this plan. Consumers will get subscriptions to JioGames Mobile, Snapchat+ (via MyJio), and Fancode (via JioTV). Jio users must log in to each service using the same mobile number linked to their Jio connection.

Jio Special offer benefits include- 3 months mobile subscription for JioHotstar, free 50GB JioAICloud storage and free 18-month Pro plan of Google Gemnin worth Rs 35,100, with 500GB cloud storage, Nano Banana and more.

Eligible subscribers can access unlimited 5G data under this plan. This Youth & Gaming plan comes with 28 days of validity and is available via the MyJio app and Jio website.

Stay tuned with The Tech Outlook for the latest tech updates.

The post Jio launches new Rs 459 Youth & Gaming plan; Comes with Snapchat+ and FanCode subscriptions appeared first on The Tech Outlook.

Amazon Leo (previously known as Project Kulper) yesterday officially introduced Amazon Leo Aviation Antenna, which is said to allow commercial airline passengers and crew to enjoy high performance from their departure gate all the way to their arrival gate.

Amazon Leo Aviation Antenna

Amazon Leo is preparing to provide fast, reliable internet connectivity to a wide variety of customers, using satellites in low Earth Orbit to deliver high speeds and low latency across land, sea and skies.

While Amazon Leo Aviation Antenna has numerous design features to increase aircraft and airline operational efficiency, the most noticeable impact will be on passengers and crew connecting to the Amazon Leo network, whether that’s at cruising altitude or parked at the gate.

Its full-duplex phased array technology delivers simultaneous speeds of up to 1 Gbps download and 400 Mbps uploads while users are aboard the aircraft. A single Amazon Leo Aviation Antenna provides enough bandwidth for premium connectivity experiences across every seat class, while the airline crew can use it to improve the passenger experience operations using near-real-time information.

This antenna features some of the same core technology that powers the Leo Ultra antenna. Aviation customers will install the antenna on the exterior airframe, and the antenna will use aviation-grade connectors to link to aircraft power systems and communicate with interior systems.

The antenna’s low-profile measures 58 inches long, 30 inches wide, and 2.6 inches high (147 by 76 by 6.6cm), minimizing added aircraft drag and fuel consumption. Its simple design with an integrated modem and streamlined mounting allows for single-day installation.

As aircraft fly overhead at 580 miles per hour, the antenna connects to Amazon’s network by establishing a link to a passing Amazon Leo satellite in low Earth Orbit. It then simultaneously hands off that link from one satellite to another as the aircraft and satellites move relative to each other.

From there, the satellite communicates with Amazon’s network of gateway antennas on the ground, each of which uses its global fiber network to reach the nearest AWS edge location and then onward to the internet, a customer’s resources on AWS or another cloud provider, or a customer’s private network.

It is revealed that Amazon Leo is building more than 300 ground gateways around the world to reduce network latency and enhance resilience.

“We’ve thought through every aspect of aviation operations to build an antenna and a service that deliver performance, reliability, and efficiency—and that shows in the Amazon Leo Aviation Antenna and the industry’s response to our technology,” Trevor Vieweg, director of global business for Amazon Leo, said. “We’re thrilled to have agreements in place already with Delta and JetBlue based on the strength of our initial offering, and it’s only going to get better from here as we innovate together with our customers.”

In the coming months, the company will share more details of its in-flight connectivity solution.

The post Amazon Leo Aviation Antenna introduced; Delivers speeds of up to 1 Gbps down and 400 Mbps up simultaneously appeared first on The Tech Outlook.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) yesterday released the Draft Telecom Consumer Protection (13^th Amendment), proposing Voice & SMS-only packs across all validity periods.

#TRAI has released the Draft Telecom Consumer Protection (13th Amendment) Regulations, 2026 proposing Voice & SMS-only packs across all validity periods, giving consumers more choice & avoiding forced data bundling.
Share comments by 28 April '26.
Details: https://t.co/a1Hwxi2Hws pic.twitter.com/X7nHuob3QU

— TRAI (@TRAI) April 8, 2026

Earlier, TRAI issued instructions for the telecom companies to introduce SMS and voice-only packs for consumers who don’t need internet benefits. It is now noted that while Telecom Service Providers offer Special Tariff Vouchers (STVs) with Voice, SMS and Data across multiple validity periods, corresponding options exclusively for Voice and SMS are not made available for the same validities.

This led consumers who do not require data to buy the bundled packs containing data. Therefore, TRAI has proposed that the service provider shall offer Special Tariff Vouchers, exclusively for Voice and SMS, with the validity period corresponding to each validity period of Special Tariff vouchers being offered by them for Voice, SMS and data, whether with or without value-added services.

Also, such Voice and SMS STVs shall be priced with a largely proportional reduction in tariff compared to STVs of corresponding validity with SMS, Voice and data.

Currently, this is only a draft proposal, and feedbacks are open till 28^th April. If this draft gets approval, then consumers will get to see more recharge options, and plans without data benefits will be cheaper, which means it could be a big move for consumers.

The post TRAI releases the Draft Telecom Consumer Protection (13th Amendment); Feedback open till 28th April appeared first on The Tech Outlook.