en.Wedoany.com Reported - Reliance Jio plans to deploy a low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation consisting of approximately 1,600 to 1,650 satellites over the next two to three years, at an orbital altitude of about 650 kilometers, aiming to provide broadband and direct-to-device (D2D) connectivity services.
According to a June 18, 2026 report by The Economic Times, Jio has submitted its constellation proposal to the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe), which is currently evaluating its configuration and technical architecture. If approved, this would mark the first entry of an Indian company into the LEO satellite sector.
The LEO market is currently dominated by Starlink, which has nearly 10,000 satellites in orbit. Many countries are seeking to reduce reliance on foreign satellite operators due to national security concerns. The report quoted an official as saying that the government wants to support Jio in applying for orbital slots with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), as Indian entities are entering this strategic field, and will also support other Indian entities interested in entering this sector.
At the 49th Annual General Meeting of Reliance Industries Limited on June 19, 2026, Akash Ambani, Managing Director of Jio Platforms Limited, stated that Jio is evaluating the development of a sovereign low Earth orbit satellite constellation for India. He noted that satellite connectivity will serve as a crucial bridge for remote villages, island communities, and border outposts not covered by Jio's network. Jio is also collaborating with leading global constellation providers to accelerate service availability through leased satellite capacity, while simultaneously building long-term sovereign capabilities. This dual-track approach aims to meet India's connectivity needs more quickly and lay the foundation for building an Indian satellite broadband platform on a global scale.
To achieve these goals, Jio is building its own ground station infrastructure in India. These ground stations will support both partner constellations and future proprietary satellites, creating an end-to-end satellite broadband ecosystem from space to ground. Akash Ambani stated that this initiative will strengthen India's self-reliance in the space sector.
Unnamed experts cited in the report estimate that building a constellation of this scale would require an investment of $10 to $15 billion (approximately ₹9.5 to ₹14.15 lakh crore), potentially generating several Tbps of capacity depending on the satellite technology employed. The satellite communication business will be housed under Jio Platforms alongside the company's other digital businesses.
Competition is intensifying in the global LEO sector. Amazon's Project Kuiper is deploying a constellation of approximately 3,200 satellites, with over 300 already in orbit. Eutelsat OneWeb (with the Bharti Group as its second-largest shareholder) operates around 654 satellites. Reliance Jio has also formed a joint venture with Luxembourg-based SES, but SES's operations are primarily focused on geostationary and medium Earth orbits, not the LEO sector.
Jio's plans highlight its intention to build indigenous satellite infrastructure amid increasingly stringent scrutiny of foreign satellite communication providers, including Starlink.
