Jio Platforms is evaluating a sovereign low Earth orbit satellite constellation for India and building ground station infrastructure, but the company has not set a commercial launch date or tariff for the proposed satellite broadband service, managing director Akash Ambani told The Economic Times in an email interview published on October 20.
Ambani said Jio is also exploring partnerships with global constellation providers to bring satellite connectivity services to India sooner. The company’s longer-term objective, he said, is to develop an indigenous satellite connectivity capability that can complement terrestrial networks in maritime, aviation and remote regions.
The plans come as Jio Platforms prepares to list on Indian stock exchanges on October 21. Ambani said proceeds from the initial public offering would help the company move towards a net-debt-free position and strengthen its balance sheet. He also said Jio would continue investing in mobility, home broadband, enterprise services and technology.
India’s terrestrial telecom networks currently provide coverage to 99% of the population, according to Ambani. That figure means satellite connectivity is being considered less as a replacement for mobile networks and more as an additional infrastructure layer for locations and use cases that are difficult or expensive to serve through fibre and conventional wireless systems.
Jio is assessing both the technology and the institutional requirements for the project. Ambani said the commercial timeline would depend on approvals, technology readiness and deployment readiness. The company is building ground infrastructure in the country while evaluating partnerships with leading global satellite constellation operators.
The proposed system would form part of Jio’s broader digital infrastructure strategy, which includes 5G monetisation, home broadband, enterprise connectivity and digital services. Ambani said Jio’s 5G network could support fixed wireless access and managed digital solutions, while the company’s technology stack could also be offered to overseas operators through partnerships and managed-service arrangements.
Jio has not disclosed a price point for satellite broadband. Ambani said affordability and accessibility would remain central to the company’s approach, but added that it would be premature to indicate tariffs before the plans and required approvals progress. He said satellite broadband should address real needs in remote and hard-to-reach areas while complementing terrestrial networks.
The company’s satellite plans therefore remain at the evaluation and infrastructure-building stage rather than at commercial deployment. Jio said it would share milestones as the constellation, partnerships, approvals and operational plans become more definite.
