Quick Take
- Reliance plans 1,600-1,650 Jio LEO satellites at 650 km, an estimated $10-15 Bn (Rs 83,000-1.25 Lakh Cr) bet.
- Jio has filed with IN-SPACe and started ITU orbital slot talks via the DoT for spectrum.
- Target is broadband plus direct-to-device service in two to three years, taking on Starlink and Amazon.
In This Article
Reliance Jio LEO satellites plan targets a constellation of 1,600 to 1,650 spacecraft at about 650 km altitude, built within two to three years to offer broadband and direct-to-device services across India.
The project sits under Jio Platforms and marks India’s first private push into a large low earth orbit (LEO) network. Reliance has submitted a proposal to space regulator IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre), which is reviewing the plan, according to the Economic Times. The firm has also begun talks with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to file for orbital slots with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
StartupFeed Insight
Here is the part the headlines miss. Reliance already runs a 51:49 satellite venture with SES, called Orbit Connect India, but those medium orbit satellites sit too high to match Starlink on latency. A fresh fleet of Jio LEO satellites is the only way the company competes on equal terms. The real risk is time: SpaceX took nearly a decade to scale Starlink. That is why an acquisition of a firm with ready orbital slots is on the table. StartupFeed expects Reliance to confirm a named investment figure or an acquisition target before its planned IPO, likely within the next 9 to 12 months. By StartupFeed Desk.
Jio LEO Satellites: The Plan at a Glance
The Jio LEO satellites project is a planned 1,600-plus spacecraft network spearheaded by Reliance Chairman Mukesh Ambani and run under Jio Platforms. The figures below come from the Economic Times report dated May 6, 2026.
| Metric | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Constellation Size | 1,600 to 1,650 satellites | Among the largest after Starlink, Amazon |
| Orbit Altitude | About 650 km (LEO) | Low orbit for low latency |
| Estimated Investment | $10-15 Bn (Rs 83,000-1.25 Lakh Cr) | Not yet finalised by Reliance |
| Timeline | Two to three years | Organic build or acquisition |
| Services | Broadband, direct-to-device | Retail plus enterprise reach |
| Regulatory Status | Filed with IN-SPACe; ITU slot talks on | Via DoT for spectrum, orbital slots |
The most striking detail is scale. At 1,600-plus units, the Jio LEO satellites network would leapfrog every other Indian operator and enter a tier occupied only by SpaceX and Amazon, the Economic Times reported.
About Jio Platforms
Jio Platforms is the telecom and digital arm of Reliance Industries, founded in 2019 and headquartered in Mumbai. Led by Mukesh Ambani, it runs Reliance Jio, India’s largest mobile operator with over 500 million subscribers. Its model spans mobile, broadband, and digital services. Key backers include Abu Dhabi’s ADIA, Mubadala, and Saudi Arabia’s PIF (sovereign wealth funds).
Why is Jio building its own LEO satellites?
Jio is building LEO satellites to own its space infrastructure rather than depend on slower orbits or foreign operators. Its existing tie-up with SES uses medium earth orbit (MEO) satellites, which orbit far higher and cannot match the low latency of networks like Starlink. A dedicated set of Jio LEO satellites closes that gap.
“The company may want to have LEO satellites in place in two to four years, either by organic or inorganic means,” a person aware of the plan told the Economic Times.
There is a strategic angle too. China has filed for nearly 200,000 satellites at the ITU. India views its own constellation as vital for digital sovereignty, data privacy, and national security, the report noted. Owning the Jio LEO satellites outright would also stop rivals from controlling space-based broadband in India.
How does Jio compare with Starlink and Amazon?
Starlink leads the global LEO race today, with Amazon’s Project Kuiper as the strongest challenger. The Jio LEO satellites plan would enter a contested field where orbital slots and spectrum are scarce.
| Player | Backer | India Status |
|---|---|---|
| Jio (planned) | Reliance / Jio Platforms | Filed with IN-SPACe |
| Starlink | SpaceX (Elon Musk) | Awaiting final approvals |
| Eutelsat OneWeb | Bharti Group (Sunil Mittal) | IN-SPACe approved |
What sets the company apart is distribution. Its retail base of more than 500 million subscribers gives it a ready market no rival can match in India.
What’s Next
The next milestone is a formal nod from IN-SPACe and an ITU orbital slot filing through the DoT, expected over the coming months. Reliance has also formed six teams covering satellites, launches, payloads, and user terminals. An acquisition of a firm with ready slots could compress the Jio LEO satellites timeline sharply. Will Reliance build from scratch or buy its way into orbit?
Frequently Asked Questions
Last updated: June 18, 2026 at 10:15 IST
Written by Avinash. Published: June 18, 2026. Updated: June 18, 2026. Have a tip? Write to us at editorial@startupfeed.in.
