Published: October 9, 2026
StartupFeed Quick Take
- Akash Ambani said on October 8 that Reliance Jio is building an India-made satellite broadband stack and has shown it to the telecom minister.
- He set no launch date for a satellite fleet. Jio’s plan, reported in June, is about 1,650 low-orbit satellites; Starlink already flies roughly 10,000.
- The remarks land days before Jio Platforms’ expected October 21 IPO, reported near Rs 37,700 crore, which would be India’s biggest.
In New Delhi, Reliance Jio has shown the telecom minister an India-made satellite broadband stack it is building, with no launch date yet set.
Jio chairman Akash Ambani said this at the India Mobile Congress on October 8, alongside a broader Jio satellite and 6G pitch.
Ambani said Jio has also started filing early 6G patents. That matches New Delhi’s goal of a tenth of global 6G patents. He framed satellite as a way to carry Jio’s home broadband where the ground network cannot reach.
Ambani put the satellite effort this way:
“What we’re also showing is the progress that we’re making on satellite technologies and what we can prove to be an indigenous satellite stack based out of India.”
Akash Ambani, chairman, Reliance Jio. From his remarks at the India Mobile Congress, October 8, 2026.
Why the Jio Satellite Stack Matters Now
The timing is the point. Reports put Jio Platforms’ IPO opening on October 21, listing on October 28, in what would be India’s biggest share sale.
The fresh issue could raise about Rs 37,700 crore, above Hyundai Motor India’s Rs 27,859 crore sale in 2024. Most of the money would repay Reliance Jio Infocomm’s loans.
The satellite unit sits inside Jio Platforms, so the plan now carries a price tag for investors. The reported constellation would need about 1,650 satellites and $10 Bn to $15 Bn over the next few years.
Jio’s pitch is a made-in-India answer to foreign operators like Starlink and Eutelsat OneWeb. Musk recently accused India of favouring local firms in satellite permits, and the government pushed back.
What this means for you: If you are weighing the Jio Platforms IPO or build in India’s space supply chain, the in-house satellite push changes the story. Watch the IPO papers, expected this month, for any numbers on the satellite plan before you bid.
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Disclaimer: This article is for information only and is not investment advice. StartupFeed and its authors are not SEBI-registered investment advisors. Please speak to a SEBI-registered advisor before investing.
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