Jio charts the SpaceX route ahead of IPO: Ambani reveals satellite internet plan
Reliance Jio is evaluating the development of a sovereign satellite constellation to extend broadband connectivity across the country, Chairman Mukesh Ambani told shareholders at the latest annual general meeting of Reliance Industries.
"Jio connected India on the ground; now it is evaluating how to connect India from the skies," Mukesh Ambani, the chairman of Reliance Industries, said at the company's RIL on June 19. The initiative would mark a significant expansion of Jio's ambitions ahead of the initial public offering (IPO), the draft red herring prospectus for which will be filed today.
The revelation comes close on the heels of SpaceX's IPO, which shattered world records, raising over $85.7 billion earlier this week—despite being a loss-making company—a clear reflection of investor enthusiasm for the potential of satellite broadband services.
For RIL
A sovereign satellite capability could play a critical role in addressing India's remaining connectivity challenges, particularly in remote, rural, mountainous, and maritime regions where conventional telecom infrastructure remains difficult or uneconomical to deploy.
The evaluation comes amid growing global interest in sovereign space-based communications infrastructure. While the pricing of the spectrum remains a matter of debate between policymakers, the Indian government had already set the ball rolling for satellite broadband licences.
Despite the rapid expansion of mobile broadband coverage over the past decade, millions of Indians continue to face limited access to high-speed internet due to geographic and economic constraints.
Governments and telecommunications operators worldwide are increasingly recognising satellite networks as strategic national assets, supporting both commercial connectivity and critical communications resilience.
Globally, companies including SpaceX's Starlink, Eutelsat OneWeb, Amazon's Project Kuiper, and China's emerging satellite initiatives are racing to deploy large-scale constellations designed to provide broadband coverage across vast geographic areas.
For India, sovereign satellite capabilities could align with broader objectives around digital sovereignty, secure communications, and reducing dependence on foreign-controlled infrastructure.
Last week, India effectively froze approvals for Elon Musk's space-based internet service, Starlink, to begin commercial operations, due to concerns about the use of its satellite terminals in the Iran war, Bloomberg reported on June 9, citing unnamed sources.
The country's space sector has undergone significant liberalisation in recent years, encouraging private-sector participation and investment in satellite manufacturing, launch services, and communications networks.
Read more: India is losing gas worth crores every year - and most of it is fixable
The revelation comes close on the heels of SpaceX's IPO, which shattered world records, raising over $85.7 billion earlier this week—despite being a loss-making company—a clear reflection of investor enthusiasm for the potential of satellite broadband services.
For RIL
, it will unlock a significant opportunity to tap high-margin enterprise customers who currently contribute to a relatively small portion of the company’s revenue.
RIL share price chart as at 2:18 pm
Why is Ambani going for satellite broadband?
A sovereign satellite capability could play a critical role in addressing India's remaining connectivity challenges, particularly in remote, rural, mountainous, and maritime regions where conventional telecom infrastructure remains difficult or uneconomical to deploy.
The evaluation comes amid growing global interest in sovereign space-based communications infrastructure. While the pricing of the spectrum remains a matter of debate between policymakers, the Indian government had already set the ball rolling for satellite broadband licences.
Despite the rapid expansion of mobile broadband coverage over the past decade, millions of Indians continue to face limited access to high-speed internet due to geographic and economic constraints.
Governments and telecommunications operators worldwide are increasingly recognising satellite networks as strategic national assets, supporting both commercial connectivity and critical communications resilience.
Globally, companies including SpaceX's Starlink, Eutelsat OneWeb, Amazon's Project Kuiper, and China's emerging satellite initiatives are racing to deploy large-scale constellations designed to provide broadband coverage across vast geographic areas.
Why Jio has an edge over SpaceX in India
For India, sovereign satellite capabilities could align with broader objectives around digital sovereignty, secure communications, and reducing dependence on foreign-controlled infrastructure.
Last week, India effectively froze approvals for Elon Musk's space-based internet service, Starlink, to begin commercial operations, due to concerns about the use of its satellite terminals in the Iran war, Bloomberg reported on June 9, citing unnamed sources.
The country's space sector has undergone significant liberalisation in recent years, encouraging private-sector participation and investment in satellite manufacturing, launch services, and communications networks.
Read more: India is losing gas worth crores every year - and most of it is fixable
Note To Readers
Disclaimer: Network18 and TV18, the companies that operate CNBC-TV18, are controlled by Independent Media Trust, of which Reliance Industries is the sole beneficiary.
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