Reliance Jio, India’s largest telecom operator, is slated to begin testing its satellite technology in September 2027. The company has filed an application with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to secure orbital slots for these initial satellites, marking a significant step in its ambitious plans for a comprehensive satellite network.
A Phased Deployment
Jio intends to eventually deploy over 1600 satellites to create a complete constellation, but this will be a multi-year process. An ET report citing unnamed sources indicates that Jio plans to have approximately 400-450 satellites in orbit By 2030. The company has already received approval from the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), the regulatory body overseeing space activities in India.
High-Capacity Connectivity
The planned Jio satellite constellation is designed to deliver high-speed broadband access to underserved regions. Each satellite is expected to offer a throughput of 100-150 Gbps, potentially reaching a total throughput of 4-4.8 Tbps once the entire constellation is operational. This projected capacity surpasses that of competitors like Starlink, which has applied for 600 Gbps throughput, and Amazon Leo, which has applied for over 3 Tbps throughput for their Indian constellations.
Strategic Orbital Positioning
Jio’s satellites will operate at a slightly higher altitude than those of competitors such as Starlink. A company official told ET that this strategic decision was made because the targeted orbital distance is currently unoccupied by other providers. While lower-earth orbit satellites generally benefit from closer proximity to Earth, Jio believes this higher orbit offers a unique advantage.
