THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
NEW
DELHI, OCTOBER 8, 2026
After transforming
connectivity on the ground through its mobile and fibre networks, Reliance Jio
is now looking to take its network reach into space, with a proposed
constellation of around 1,600 Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites and 23 ground
stations planned across India.
Jio showcased its
satellite connectivity vision at the ongoing India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026
here, positioning the initiative under the banner of ‘Sovereign Satellite
Connectivity’ and outlining an ambition to bridge gaps in areas where
conventional towers and fibre networks are difficult to deploy.
The proposed
satellite network is envisaged as an India-centric ecosystem, with Jio seeking
to keep the entire value chain within the country, spanning design,
engineering, integration and testing to launch, deployment and operations.
The 23 proposed
ground stations are expected to form a critical link between the satellite
constellation and infrastructure on the ground, while satellite connectivity
would be integrated with Jio’s existing terrestrial network.
The company’s vision
is to provide 100 per cent coverage across land and maritime areas, extending
connectivity to more than 600,000 villages, including remote settlements,
islands and border outposts.
Jio has also
identified a wide range of potential applications for the proposed network,
covering enterprises, remote sites, aviation, maritime operations, government,
defence and disaster response. Direct-to-device calling in rural areas is also
part of the vision.
The initiative comes
as the 10th edition of India Mobile Congress gets underway under the theme
‘Scale Without Boundaries’. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the event
on Thursday, with the theme reflecting the ambition to extend technology and connectivity
beyond conventional geographical and infrastructural limits.
Jio’s satellite connectivity proposal mirrors that ambition by seeking to complement terrestrial networks with space-based infrastructure, particularly in locations where laying fibre or deploying mobile towers can be challenging.
For now, the proposed 1,600-satellite constellation and 23 ground stations remain part of Jio’s planned architecture. However, the company’s roadmap signals an effort to combine terrestrial and satellite networks into a unified connectivity ecosystem and expand the reach of digital services to some of the country’s most remote and difficult-to-connect regions.
