Jio Platforms is considering building a sovereign constellation of around 1,600 low earth orbit satellites to provide broadband and direct-to-device services across India’s diverse terrains, supported by new ground stations and partnerships with global satellite providers.
- Jio plans a 1,600-plus LEO satellite constellation for broadband
- Partnerships with global constellation providers to speed deployment
- AI infrastructure expansion powered by solar energy in Gujarat
What happened
Jio Platforms, the telecom affiliate of Reliance Industries, revealed plans to develop a sovereign low earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation focused on serving India. The company proposes launching around 1,600 to 1,650 satellites to provide comprehensive broadband and direct-to-device connectivity, particularly targeting rural, mountainous, island, and border regions where terrestrial networks are limited.
To accelerate the rollout, Jio intends to collaborate with established global satellite constellation providers by leasing their capacity while simultaneously building out its own satellite and ground station capabilities within India. This strategy aims to create a complete satellite broadband network infrastructure under Jio’s stewardship.
Why it matters
The initiative addresses a critical connectivity gap across India’s remote and hard-to-reach geographies by using satellite technology, which can rapidly extend network coverage without extensive physical infrastructure. This sovereign approach aligns with India’s push for self-reliance in strategic technological domains while enabling Jio to harness state-of-the-art space-based services.
In parallel, Jio is investing heavily in AI infrastructure powered by renewable energy in Gujarat. This marks a significant step for India's digital ecosystem, as it intends to offer sovereign AI hosting, multi-lingual AI platforms, and enterprise AI solutions all domestically housed, contributing to both digital sovereignty and sustainable technology development.
What to watch next
Additionally, following Jio’s AI infrastructure launch and rollout of specialized AI-driven platforms like JioBharat IQ and JioKrishi IQ will provide insights into how the company integrates satellite connectivity with advanced AI applications to broaden digital access and services across India.