The goal is not just broadband from space but also direct-to-device connectivity, effectively extending Jio’s terrestrial dominance into orbit. The project, still under evaluation by the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), could cost between $10 billion and $15 billion and be executed over the next two-to-three years. If realised, it would mark the first large-scale Indian entry into a domain currently dominated by global giants like SpaceX’s Starlink and Amazon’s Project Kuiper, now called Amazon Leo.
Also Read: Reliance Jio plans 1,650-satellite LEO network for broadband services
A full-stack telecom push into orbit
What stands out in the Reliance Jio plan is the scale and ambition. A 1,600-plus satellite network places Jio in the same league as the biggest global LEO players. Starlink currently operates the largest constellation in the world, with about 10,000 satellites in orbit. Amazon Leo already has a few hundred satellites in this orbit while it is also building a multi-thousand satellite system, while Eutelsat OneWeb, backed by the Bharti Group, has over 600 satellites already deployed.
Jio’s plan indicates something more structural than competition. It suggests the creation of a vertically integrated telecom stack where connectivity is no longer dependent on towers, fibre or even geography. Instead, Jio Platforms could control everything from spectrum-backed terrestrial networks to space-based broadband beams, and potentially even user devices in the future through direct-to-device connectivity.
The sovereignty angle
One of the most important undercurrents in this move is digital sovereignty. The ET report says that government support to Jio is likely for International Telecommunication Union (ITU) filings to secure orbital slots for an Indian entity entering a strategically sensitive sector. This is not just a commercial play but a geopolitical one.
Globally, satellite communication has increasingly become entangled with national security concerns. Satellite internet systems such as Starlink played operational roles in conflict zones, reinforcing the idea that LEO constellations are dual-use infrastructure. Against this backdrop, India’s push to develop domestic capacity is consistent with broader policy thinking around reducing reliance on foreign-controlled infrastructure for critical communications.
Also Read: Musk’s Starlink may face curbs on satellite data routing in India
ET reported recently that the government is unlikely to allow interlinked satellites for providing internet services as that allows data to bypass national borders, as per people aware of the matter, posing a hurdle for Elon Musk’s Starlink, which uses the technology to channel traffic. “The laser inter-satellite link (LISL) tech allows the new generation Starlink satellites to beam data directly to one another in space, forming a mesh network above earth, creating a unique security challenge,” said one of the persons.
This could mean Indian data being routed through hostile jurisdictions or surveillance hubs before reaching its destination. The issue has been raised with satcom firms, including Starlink, and safeguards are being planned to ensure this doesn’t happen, the person said. “The older generation of Starlink satellites don’t have the laser link tech,” said another person. “For the newer ones, the laser links are likely to be disabled or heavily restricted for traffic routing involving Indian users.”
The government is taking a cautious approach toward Starlink’s security approval due to the threat potential, the ET report said. The interlinked satellite system is controlled by SpaceX in the US, which allows the satcom firm to turn connectivity on and off remotely, said a third person, underscoring the serious nature of the concern. “The tech was widely used during the Ukraine and West Asia wars, wherein the coverage was geofenced and modified by SpaceX remotely,” the person told ET. “Starlink has to programme its routing tables to ensure that any data packet originating from an Indian terminal must downlink to an Indian gateway. It won’t be allowed to jump to a foreign gateway.”
Companies planning to provide satcom services such as the Jio-SES satellite joint venture and Eutelsat Oneweb don’t use laser link technology, making Starlink the only player to be impacted. However, none of the three have got security clearance to start services yet.
In such a situation, if Jio succeeds, India would gain a sovereign communications layer in space, reducing dependence on foreign operators for rural connectivity, disaster recovery networks and potentially even defence-adjacent communications resilience.
The capital intensity challenge
A big question mark would be over economic viability. A $10–15 billion investment is only the beginning. LEO constellations are notoriously capital intensive because satellites have limited lifespans, typically around five to seven years, requiring constant replenishment.
The ET report says the system could generate multi-terabit capacity depending on satellite configuration. That is significant but monetisation will depend heavily on usage density. Unlike terrestrial telecom, where infrastructure costs are amortised over dense urban populations, satellite broadband must recover costs across sparsely distributed users in rural, maritime and aviation segments, plus enterprise customers.
This is where Jio’s domestic advantage becomes crucial. Unlike Starlink or Amazon Leo, which must build markets from scratch in many regions, Jio already has one of the largest telecom subscriber bases in the world. Bundling satellite broadband into existing Jio services could be the key to utilisation rates that justify the economics.
Also Read: Reliance eyes billions in LEO satellites to build India’s answer to Starlink
Pressure on global players
The entry of Jio might also reshape the competitive map of the LEO industry. Today, the sector is defined by a few dominant players — SpaceX with Starlink, Amazon with Amazon Leo and regional consortiums like Eutelsat OneWeb. Amazon is already deploying its own constellation, while OneWeb has advanced deployments with Bharti Group as a major stakeholder. Jio’s entry effectively creates a new heavyweight backed by India’s largest telecom ecosystem.
Unlike many Western entrants, Jio’s model is likely to be deeply price-sensitive and volume-driven. That could put downward pressure on global pricing if it scales successfully, particularly in emerging markets across Asia, Africa and parts of the Middle East where cost is a decisive factor.
Another important implication will be convergence. Jio Platforms already operates across telecom, digital services and cloud infrastructure. A satellite layer completes the stack. In practical terms, this could allow Jio to deliver uninterrupted connectivity across terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks, switching seamlessly between fibre, 5G and satellite links. For enterprise customers, this could mean resilient global connectivity solutions without dependence on multiple vendors. It also opens up new possibilities in edge computing. With LEO satellites acting as distributed nodes, latency-sensitive applications like remote industrial operations, maritime logistics tracking and aviation connectivity could become more reliable.
However, there are several complexities involved. Orbital slot allocation through the ITU is highly competitive, and spectrum coordination is complex. The ET report indicates that the Indian government is likely to support Jio’s filings, but global coordination may still be required. There is also the question of space congestion. With thousands of satellites already in orbit and tens of thousands more planned globally, low Earth orbit is becoming increasingly crowded. Collision risk, space debris management and long-term orbital sustainability are emerging issues that regulators and operators will need to address collectively.
The inorganic option?
An earlier ET report from last month said that Reliance was also exploring inorganic entry into the satellite sector, including potential acquisitions of existing operators with orbital assets and infrastructure. While the latest report does not emphasise this route, it might remain strategically relevant.
In a fast-moving space market, acquisition can be a shortcut to spectrum rights, orbital positioning and technical expertise. If organic deployment timelines stretch or regulatory delays emerge, inorganic moves could re-enter the picture as a parallel strategy. However, Reliance has not confirmed any move so far, neither organic nor inorganic.
A platform play disguised as a satellite project
At its core, this is not just a space project but also a platform expansion strategy. By embedding satellite connectivity into Jio Platforms, which is also preparing for a public listing, Reliance is effectively broadening the definition of telecom from national infrastructure to global infrastructure.
If executed at scale, the implications go beyond competition. It could redefine how India connects rural populations, how enterprises design resilient networks and how the country positions itself in the global satellite communications economy. What is visible in the Reliance plan is a layered connectivity architecture where space is no longer separate from telecom, but an extension of it. And in that architecture, Jio is attempting to become not just a participant, but one of its pioneer builders.
