Reliance Jio Launches India’s First Satellite-Based Giga Fibre Service

Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance Jio Infocomm has introduced JioSpaceFiber, India’s first satellite-based giga-fibre service. The offering is designed to provide fast and reliable internet connectivity to remote and challenging-to-reach regions.

The company said it plans to make JioSpaceFiber accessible nationwide at cost-effective rates. Jio introduced its satellite broadband service during the India Mobile Congress on October 27.

As per the company, today, high-speed broadband fixed line and wireless services are provided to over 450 Mn Indian consumers by Jio. To enhance digital inclusivity for every household in India, Jio has incorporated JioSpaceFiber into its leading range of broadband services, including JioFiber and JioAirFiber.

“With Jio, consumers and businesses have unprecedented access to reliable, low latency, and high-speed internet and entertainment services, regardless of location. The satellite network will also support additional capacity for mobile backhaul, further enhancing the availability and scale of Jio True5G in the remotest parts of the country,” the company said in a statement.

JioSpaceFiber has connected remote locations like Gir in Gujarat, Korba in Chhattisgarh, Nabarangpur in Odisha, and ONGC-Jorhat in Assam.

Jio and SES have also joined forces to access medium earth orbit (MEO) satellite technology. This MEO constellation is unique in its ability to deliver high-speed, fibre-like services from space. With access to both SES’s O3b and the new O3b mPOWER satellites, Jio is the exclusive provider of game-changing technology, offering scalable and affordable broadband coverage across India.

The global satellite internet market was pegged at $2.93 Bn in 2020 and is expected to rise to $18.59 Bn by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 20.4% during the 2021-2030 period, according to a report.

In September 2022, Jio Infocomm received approval from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to offer global mobile personal communication by satellite (GMPCS) services in India.

In February 2022, Ambani’s company announced a joint venture to provide satellite-based broadband services across India, entering the competition with Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Sunil Mittal’s OneWeb to offer reliable, high-speed internet access.

Jio Platforms had previously revealed a partnership with Luxembourg-based SES to deliver satellite-based broadband services in India.

In October 2022, SpaceX, the parent company of Starlink, submitted a license application to the DoT for introducing satellite-based broadband services in India. 

On launching its satellite services, Jio has joined the likes of Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Bharti Enterprises’ OneWeb, which already provide satellite-based broadband services across the globe.

Satellites in orbit can bring high-speed internet to remote areas without requiring fibre-optic infrastructure. Reliance, in its partnership with SES, aims to extend internet services to distant towns and cities across India through satellite broadband.

According to an Inc42 report, the Indian commercial spacetech market is expected to grow to $77 Bn by 2030.