Jio Platforms is evaluating a sovereign low Earth orbit satellite constellation for India and building ground infrastructure, but the company has not set a commercial launch date or tariff for the proposed satellite broadband service, managing director Akash Ambani said in an interview with The Economic Times.
Ambani said Jio was also exploring partnerships with global satellite constellation providers to bring services to India sooner. The company’s longer-term objective is to develop an indigenous satellite connectivity capability, subject to regulatory approvals, technology readiness and deployment requirements.
The plan is being considered alongside Jio’s existing terrestrial network. Ambani said telecom connectivity currently covers 99% of India’s population, while satellite connectivity could serve specific requirements in maritime and aviation operations and in some of the country’s remotest regions. He said satellite broadband should complement terrestrial networks rather than replace them.
Jio is building ground station infrastructure in India as it evaluates the constellation proposal. The company is also assessing partnerships with international providers, although it has not identified the potential partners or disclosed the technical design, number of satellites or investment planned for the system.
“We are evaluating the possibility of developing a sovereign Low Earth Orbit satellite constellation for India,” Ambani said in the interview. “At the same time, we are building ground station infrastructure in the country.” He added that Jio had not announced a commercial launch date and would share milestones as the plans become more concrete.
The proposed satellite service forms part of Jio’s wider expansion beyond mobile connectivity. Ambani identified home broadband, dedicated enterprise connectivity and managed digital solutions as areas where the company expects to monetise its 5G investments. Jio is also exploring overseas opportunities for its technology stack, including cloud-native radio access networks, 5G core systems, operations and business support platforms, fixed wireless access and artificial-intelligence-based network automation.
The company’s satellite plans come as Jio Platforms prepares to list on Indian stock exchanges on October 21. Ambani said the initial public offering would be entirely a fresh issue, with proceeds going directly to the company. He said the funds would help Jio move towards a net-debt-free position and strengthen its balance sheet.
Ambani said Jio’s revenue had grown at a compound annual growth rate of about 15.8% over the past three years, while EBITDA had grown at about 17.8%. He said future investment priorities would include mobility, home broadband, enterprise services and technology, with the pace of capital expenditure determined by customer demand, capacity requirements and new opportunities.
Jio has not disclosed a price point for the satellite service. Ambani said affordability and access would remain central to the company’s approach, but added that it was premature to indicate tariffs before the plans and required approvals progress. The company’s next publicly stated milestones will depend on regulatory clearances, technology decisions, partnership discussions and deployment readiness.
