Reliance Jio Clears Technical Hurdle For 1,600-Satellite LEO Network

Reliance Jio’s proposal to build a large-scale low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite network has been assessed as technically sound by the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), The Economic Times reported. The evaluation was conducted in consultation with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).

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The assessment allows Reliance Jio to move ahead with international filings for orbital slots and seek government support in securing the necessary rights through the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Coordinating with other satellite operators would be necessary to ensure that there is no interference between their systems.

The approval process has been a very important step towards realizing Jio’s intentions for developing a homegrown satellite broadband network for connectivity services in India.

Network Proposed With 4.5-5 Tbps Network Capacity

As per the plan, Reliance Jio aims to launch about 1,600 LEO satellites with network capacity of 4.5 to 5 terabits per second (Tbps). The company will also set up between 20 to 22 earth stations in the country.

The proposed network would be capable of delivering fixed satellite services (FSS) and include broadband and cellular backhaul connectivity services. This would also cater to mobile satellite services (MSS) which includes direct-to-device connectivity services.

The network would be capable of providing fast internet and mobile connectivity in areas that might not have connectivity through conventional methods of terrestrial infrastructure.

Jio Network Could Support Strategic Applications

The project also has potential strategic relevance. The Economic Times reported that discussions are taking place around the possible integration of defence-related payloads into the satellite network.

If approved, such applications could expand the use of the constellation beyond commercial connectivity and support India’s efforts to build domestic space communication capabilities. The development comes as countries increasingly focus on reducing dependence on foreign satellite communication systems.

Reliance Jio’s Proposal Compared With Global Rivals

IN-SPACe’s technical assessment has placed the proposed Jio constellation on par with leading international satellite systems. Starlink has approval for 600 gigabits per second (Gbps) of capacity over India, while Amazon’s Project Kuiper is planned to provide 3 Tbps, although it has not yet received IN-SPACe authorisation.

Jio’s proposed capacity of up to 5 Tbps would therefore be higher than the capacity currently approved or planned for the competing systems mentioned.

The Reliance Jio share price may remain in focus as investors assess the broader implications of the company’s expansion into satellite connectivity and space-based communication services.

Regulatory Approvals Remain

The technical evaluation is only one stage of the process. Jio needs to get its international orbits registered through the ITU and coordinate with other satellite service providers and establish ground infrastructure for the network. 

Jio would also have to get all its regulatory approvals sorted out before starting the process of network implementation. This will decide how long it takes to move from regulatory approval to the implementation of the proposed 1,600 satellites.