Reliance Jio plans 1,650-satellite LEO network for broadband services

Reliance Jio is planning to develop and launch its own low Earth orbit (LEO) constellation of 1,600-1,650 satellites at an altitude of about 650 kilometres in the next two-three years to offer broadband and direct-to-device services, said people with knowledge of the development.

The Mukesh Ambani-led company has submitted a proposal to this effect to space regulator Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), which is evaluating the configuration and technical architecture, they said.

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Focus on Self-reliance

This is the first time an Indian entity is seeking to enter the lucrative LEO segment, which is dominated by Elon Musk-owned Starlink with around 10,000 satellites in space. The move assumes significance because it comes against the backdrop of countries striving to reduce their dependence on foreign satellite players owing to heightened national security concerns.


“The government is looking to support Jio with International Telecommunication Union (ITU) filings for securing orbital slots as an Indian entity is entering the strategic sector,” an official said on condition of anonymity, adding that the government will also support other Indian entities that want to enter the segment.

Queries sent to Reliance Jio and IN-SPACe remained unanswered till press time.

Experts said setting up the kind of constellation being planned by Jio will entail investment in the range of $10-15 billion (about Rs 95,000-141,500 crore) and can potentially create a few terabits of capacity, depending on the satellites being used.

The satcom unit will be housed under Jio Platforms like the company’s other digital assets.

Jio Platforms is planning to come out with an initial public offering in the coming days.

ET was the first one to report about Reliance Jio’s entry into the space sector last month.

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Currently, Jeff Bezos-owned Amazon Leo is in the process of putting up about 3,200 satellites, with more than 300 already placed in orbit, while Eutelsat OneWeb, in which Sunil Mittal-led Bharti Group is the second-largest stakeholder after the French government, has about 654 satellites in space. Jio also has a joint venture with Luxembourg-based SES, which has satellites in geostationary and medium Earth orbit but not in LEO.

Reliance Jio is pressing ahead with its plans of building its own satellite constellation amid debate on curbs imposed on latest technologies such as artificial intelligence by countries like the US.

There has been increasing scrutiny of foreign satcom players like Starlink due to national security concerns.