Jio’s Satellite Internet Launch on the Horizon with Regulatory Nod Expected Soon: Reports

New Delhi: Reliance Jio’s satellite-based gigabit fibre service, JioSpaceFiber, is on the verge of launching in India pending approvals from the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe). The telecom giant has reportedly fulfilled all necessary submissions, showcasing its satcom technology at the 2023 India Mobile Congress. JioSpaceFiber aims to be India’s pioneer in satellite-based giga-fibre Internet services.

According to sources, IN-SPACe’s approval, involving security clearances and ministry nods, is imminent. Last year, Jio successfully demonstrated its technology by connecting remote locations in Gujarat, Chattisgarh, Odisha, and Assam. For this venture, Jio has partnered with Luxembourg’s SES for access to medium earth orbit (MEO) satellites, specifically SES’s O3b and new O3b mPOWER satellites.

Jio’s foray into satcom services puts it in direct competition with Starlink by Elon Musk, OneWeb by Eutelsat Group, and Project Kuiper by Amazon—all eyeing the Indian market. Despite the anticipation, Jio has not disclosed specific plans for the official launch of its satellite Internet services in the country.