According to iFinTech APP, the US technology giant Apple Inc. (AAPL.US) is actively collaborating with the Indian telecom giant Bharti Airtel to explore providing high-quality free music and video streaming services to the premium customers of this telecom company, enabling the streaming services of this US technology giant to reach numerous online entertainment consumers in the world's most populous country.

It is understood that Apple's streaming platform Apple TV+ mainly features English content, and holds a place in India's total media and entertainment market valued at $28 billion. Apple TV+'s main competitors include streaming giants like Netflix, Amazon's Prime Video, Disney's specially customized Disney+ Hotstar for the Indian market, and JioCinema under Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani.

Apple's move to enter the Indian streaming market comes at a time when competition in the Indian streaming market is intensifying, and the proposed $8.5 billion merger of media assets between Reliance Group and Disney India business (both of which have streaming services) is facing close scrutiny from Indian antitrust regulators.

"Apple's Apple TV+ under Apple will be fully bundled with Airtel WiFi, which has premium subscription customers and postpaid plans." India's Bharti Airtel stated in a statement on Tuesday local time, however, the two companies did not disclose the specific value of the cooperation agreement or detailed information on costs.

It is understood that Apple Music will also be available to existing premium subscribers to Wynk Music streaming app which, Bharti Telecom will soon shut down. India's Bharti Airtel recently announced that the staff responsible for the music app will be absorbed by the company.

Two sources familiar with this strategy stated that for Apple, this significant deal aims to reach more Indian consumers through its digital streaming services, as Bharti Airtel is the second-largest telecom operator in India, with approximately 0.281 billion users. In comparison, Reliance Jio, the telecom giant under Indian billionaire Ambani, has approximately 0.489 billion users.

Apple's flagship streaming service, Apple TV+, known globally for its original series such as Ted Lasso, The Morning Show, and Slow Horses, has stood out in the streaming industry with its focus on internal original content.

Most of the streaming competitors in India and overseas are able to provide users with classic old movies and popular TV shows from other studios, as well as their own original content.

According to two other sources familiar with Apple's plans, Bharti Airtel in India will announce a new subscription fee plan in the next few days, which may include free access to Apple TV+ service.

Currently, Apple TV+ service has a retail subscription price of $9.99 per month in the United States and a significantly reduced retail subscription price of 99 Indian rupees per month in India (approximately $1.18). In comparison, JioCinema under Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance offers free exclusive cricket content, and plans to charge as low as 29 rupees per month. On the other hand, the starting price for another streaming giant Netflix is higher, at 149 rupees per month.

Cricket is seen as an important way to attract more Indian market customers to major streaming platforms. Last year, Disney lost streaming rights to the Indian Premier League, one of the most popular cricket tournaments in the world, owned by Ambani's Reliance group, and as a result, potentially lost millions of Indian users.

According to data from renowned market research firm Counterpoint, Apple holds a 6% market share among India's approximately 690 million smartphone users. The remaining market is dominated by Samsung and numerous Chinese smartphone manufacturers, all using Google's Android operating system.

In addition, Apple's music streaming service, Apple Music, currently has a subscription price of 99 Indian rupees per month in the Indian market, providing access to a vast library of 100 million songs.