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Reliance Jio is targeting September 2027 for the test launch of satellites for its proposed 1,600-satellite low Earth orbit (LEO) constellation, as the telecom giant steps up its satellite broadband play. The test launch will involve placing a few satellites in orbit to evaluate the network’s hardware, software, and other technologies before mass deployment begins in early 2028, the Economic Times reported. Jio plans to deploy around 400-450 satellites by 2030 and complete the constellation by 2035. It has also filed an application with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for the orbital resources required for the network. “Around 90-100 minimum coverage satellites are planned to be sent in two-three quarters after the test launch, which means India can start getting satellite connectivity in 2028,” the report quoted a source as saying. Inc42 has reached out to Jio for comments on the development. The story will be updated on receiving a response. The development comes two months after Jio announced that it was considering building a sovereign LEO satellite constellation as part of a broader push into satellite connectivity. IPO-bound Jio Platforms’ MD Akash Ambani said at the time that the company could work with global constellation operators while developing its own satellite capabilities. It is also looking to build ground stations in India to support both partner networks and its future satellites. The satellite network is expected to initially focus on India, particularly underserved regions, before expanding globally. Jio plans to use high-throughput satellites to provide broadband connectivity in areas where terrestrial networks are difficult to deploy. Inside Jio’s Satcom Plans Jio’s satellites are expected to operate at an altitude of around 650 kilometres and offer throughput of 100-150 Gbps each. Once the constellation is fully deployed, around 30-32 satellites could be positioned over India at any given time, offering aggregate capacity of as much as 4.8 Tbps, according to the report. The report claimed that this would be higher than the capacity proposed by other LEO operators in India. It pegged Starlink’s approved capacity at around 600 Gbps, while Amazon Leo has reportedly sought approval for about 3 Tbps. Jio's push builds on its partnership with Luxembourg-based satellite operator SES. The two companies operate satellite communications joint venture Jio Space Technology Limited, formerly known as Jio Satellite Communications. Jio has previously called for a level playing field between satellite and terrestrial telecom services. It, along with Vodafone Idea, had opposed the administrative allocation of satellite spectrum and favoured auctions. The government, however, has opted for administrative allocation and is working on the pricing and other conditions governing the assignment of satellite spectrum. Jio’s proposed constellation would add another major player to India’s emerging satcom market, where Elon Musk-led Starlink, Bharti Enterprises-backed Eutelsat OneWeb, and Amazon Leo are also seeking to launch services. The development comes at a time when Jio Platforms, which houses Reliance Jio Infocomm, is gearing up for its IPO. The company is expected to begin investor outreach for its nearly $4 Bn public issue next week and is targeting the IPO in November, Bloomberg reported.
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