India’s largest telecom operator Jio Platforms is evaluating launching a sovereign Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) constellation for India.
The company described a “dual approach” to satellite broadband, considering its own constellation while working with satellite partners for capacity, Akash M. Ambani, chairman of Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited, told investors during a shareholder meeting on June 19.
“Jio is evaluating the development of a sovereign LEO satellite constellation for India. We are also partnering with the leading global constellation providers by leasing satellite capacity, so that we can accelerate service availability while building our own long-term sovereign capability,” Ambaani said in a video address. “This dual approach will enable Jio to meet India’s connectivity needs faster, while laying the foundation for the Indian satellite broadband platform of global scale.”
This comes as Jio Platforms filed for an IPO in India, which Reuters reports could raise as much as $3.8 billion.
The company says it is the largest digital connectivity provider in India, with 268 million 5G subscribers, the largest subscriber base for any single country or operator outside of China.
Jio is also building satellite ground stations in India to support partner constellations and its own future satellites, Ambani said.
Satellite will help Jio reach the most remote villages and island communities where the company’s network does not reach, “placing India firmly on the global satellite broadband services map,” Ambani added.
Jio has an existing joint venture with SES announced in 2022 as Jio Space Technology.