New Delhi: Reliance Jio has submitted a proposal to the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) to deploy a constellation of around 1,600–1,650 low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites at an altitude of roughly 650 kilometres. If approved and executed, the project could mark one of the most significant developments in India’s space-based telecommunications sector.
The proposed constellation, which remains under regulatory evaluation, is estimated to cost between $10 billion and $15 billion and could take nearly three years to become operational.
According to an Economic Times report, Jio is preparing for much more than satellite broadband services. The company is reportedly planning a network capable of supporting direct-to-device connectivity, allowing smartphones and other devices to connect directly to satellites without relying entirely on terrestrial infrastructure. Such a capability would extend Jio’s telecommunications ecosystem from ground-based networks into space. If realized, the project would represent India’s first large-scale indigenous LEO satellite communications constellation and place the country in a sector currently dominated by foreign players, most notably Elon Musk-led SpaceX’s Starlink, Amazon’s Project Kuiper, and Eutelsat OneWeb.
Market dominated by global giants
With nearly 10,000 satellites in orbit, Starlink currently operates the world’s largest LEO satellite constellation. While Jio’s proposed constellation would be significantly smaller, it would nevertheless place India among a select group of nations possessing large-scale sovereign satellite broadband infrastructure.
Amazon’s Project Kuiper, meanwhile, has already begun deploying satellites and is working towards a multi-thousand-satellite network. Eutelsat OneWeb, backed in part by the Bharti Group, has more than 600 satellites in orbit and is among the frontrunners in the global satellite broadband market.
Unlike traditional telecommunications providers that depend on cellular towers, fibre-optic cables and terrestrial infrastructure, Jio’s proposed constellation would create a vertically integrated communications network capable of delivering connectivity independent of geography. Such a system could eventually support broadband access, IoT (internet of things) services, disaster-response communications and direct-to-device connectivity across India’s vast territory, including remote and underserved regions.
Strategic timing
Jio’s proposal comes at a time when India is increasingly scrutinizing foreign satellite operators from a national security perspective.
The Centre and other government agencies have reportedly raised concerns regarding signal spillover in sensitive border regions, cybersecurity vulnerabilities and the extent of governmental control over foreign-owned satellite infrastructure during periods of geopolitical tension or conflict.
According to a Communications Today analysis, foreign satellite providers seeking to enter the Indian market, including Starlink, Eutelsat OneWeb and SES, have faced regulatory hurdles and prolonged clearance processes before being allowed to launch full commercial services.
Against this context, the proposal by Jio becomes relevant because it is in line with India’s efforts to achieve technological sovereignty in strategic sectors.
The company would be pursuing the process of filing with ITU (International Telecommunication Union), which is important for achieving access to orbital slot/spectrum. Such filings would place India more prominently in the increasingly competitive global race for orbital and spectrum resources.
LEO constellations to be strategic assets
Around the world, satellite communications are no longer viewed solely as commercial ventures. LEO constellations have increasingly become strategic national assets with implications for military operations, intelligence gathering and geopolitical influence.
The war in Ukraine has shown how important the use of satellite internet can be in warfare. Starlink technology made it possible for Ukrainian troops to communicate on the battlefield, control drones and provide command and control capabilities.
As a result, governments worldwide have begun viewing satellite broadband networks as critical strategic infrastructure rather than merely commercial telecommunications systems.
The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) has noted that LEO constellations are becoming “as much a strategic asset as a commercial one”. In addition to providing communications services, early entrants gain valuable access to orbital positions and spectrum allocations that can translate into long-term geopolitical and economic advantages.
India racing to catch up
India’s move into the LEO segment comes considerably later than some of its global competitors, particularly China.
In December 2025, multiple Chinese entities reportedly submitted applications covering more than 200,000 satellites across 14 planned LEO constellations. Such filings are widely seen as an effort to secure future orbital and spectrum rights well before actual deployment.
Given the size of Chinese goals, it becomes clear how competitive the situation between the major players has become regarding dominance in the new communication system based on space technology. In India’s case, the development of its own LEO satellite network means not only having more opportunities for broadband internet services but also decreasing the dependency on other countries’ communication technologies.
Government concerns stem partly from the fact that foreign LEO operators often route data through ground stations and servers located outside India. This raises questions regarding data sovereignty, intelligence vulnerabilities and the security of sensitive communications during periods of crisis.
Having its own constellation will help India resolve all these problems as it will ensure that critical infrastructure for communication remains regulated by the country itself.
More than a telecom project
Jio’s proposed constellation should therefore be viewed as more than another telecommunications venture. It represents India’s attempt to secure a foothold in a strategic domain where commercial competitiveness, national security and geopolitical influence increasingly intersect.
As satellite broadband evolves into an essential component of both economic development and military resilience, India’s ability to field its own large-scale LEO network may prove as important in the coming decades as the development of indigenous telecom networks was in the past.
If approved, Jio’s ambitious project could become a key turn in India’s journey towards technological independence in space-based communications.