New Delhi: Reliance Jio is preparing for a major expansion into the space-based communications sector with plans to build a low Earth orbit (LEO) constellation of around 1,600 satellites at an altitude of about 650 km, positioning the telecom giant to compete directly with global satellite broadband operators such as Starlink and Amazon Leo.

According to the media reports, Jio is targeting September 2027 for the first test flight of the proposed constellation. A small number of satellites are expected to be launched initially to test hardware, software and other technologies before large-scale deployment begins in early 2028.

Network to deliver high-speed satellite broadband

The proposed constellation is designed primarily to provide high-speed broadband to underserved and remote regions, while also supporting direct-to-device connectivity. Jio plans to focus initially on India, although the company is reportedly looking at eventual global coverage.

The network could eventually provide 4–4.8 terabits per second (Tbps) of capacity over India, with each satellite expected to offer roughly 100–150 Gbps of throughput. At full deployment, around 30–32 satellites could be positioned over India at a given time, according to people familiar with the plan cited by ET.

Jio has chosen an orbital altitude of approximately 650 km, slightly higher than the orbital shells used by some competing LEO networks. The company is understood to have selected the altitude partly because there is comparatively less congestion from existing or planned LEO constellations there.

400–450 satellites targeted by 2030

The latest reported roadmap envisages the deployment of 400–450 satellites by 2030, with the complete constellation expected to be built out by 2035. The project is therefore likely to be rolled out in phases rather than through a single large-scale launch programme.

The proposed network would strengthen Jio’s ability to offer connectivity in areas where terrestrial fibre and mobile infrastructure are difficult or expensive to deploy. Satellite connectivity could be particularly useful for remote villages, maritime areas, disaster-hit locations and other poorly connected regions.

Regulatory groundwork already under way

Jio’s move into space is not entirely new. The Department of Telecommunications has already granted Jio Satellite Communications Ltd a Unified Licence with authorisation for Global Mobile Personal Communications by Satellite (GMPCS). The government’s January 2026 parliamentary response listed Jio among the companies that had received GMPCS authorisation, alongside OneWeb India and Starlink.

The DoT’s GMPCS framework permits satellite-based voice, messaging, internet and IoT connectivity, particularly for rural, remote and underserved areas. However, the licence itself does not automatically grant spectrum rights; separate frequency assignment is required.

Jio has also been active in satellite broadband through its existing partnership with Luxembourg-based SES. The two companies established Jio Space Technology Ltd in 2022, with the joint venture intended to provide satellite-based broadband services in India using SES’s geostationary and medium-Earth-orbit satellite systems.

Jio enters an increasingly competitive market

The proposed LEO constellation would put Jio in competition with SpaceX’s Starlink, Amazon Leo and Eutelsat OneWeb. Starlink has already established a large global LEO network, while Amazon is building its own constellation.

Jio’s proposed network, however, would represent a significant step towards creating an Indian-owned large-scale satellite communications infrastructure, potentially reducing dependence on overseas satellite operators and strengthening India’s domestic space and telecom capabilities.

The project also comes as India’s satellite communications market is expanding rapidly. TRAI conducted a consultation in 2026 on the framework for satellite communication network authorisation and spectrum assignment, with Jio among the industry participants.

For Jio, the proposed constellation marks a significant shift from its traditional terrestrial telecom operations to an integrated space-and-ground connectivity model. If the ambitious deployment schedule is achieved, the company could emerge as one of India’s most important private-sector players in the LEO satellite communications market.