Citing the potential of satellite-based broadband services, Reliance Geo has announced that it will launch its own satellite internet service in India to undertake the Starlink project for Elon Musk. India’s telecommunications giant recently partnered with Luxembourg-based telecommunications company SES to acquire a 51% stake and become an anchor customer for the joint venture, providing satellite-based broadband services in India.
Reliance Jio launches satellite-based broadband service in India
Reliance Jio announced that it will launch satellite-based broadband services in India as part of a Jio Space Technology joint venture with SES. According to the company, the service will be able to provide multi-gigabit links and capacity to Indian retail customers and businesses at speeds of up to 100 Gbps.
The currently unnamed service leverages a combination of geostationary (GEO) and medium earth orbit (MEO) satellites to provide customers with high-speed Internet connectivity. With this, Jio aims to undertake Elon Musk’s Starlink service, which is struggling to establish its roots in India.
“As part of [the] Under the investment plan, the joint venture will develop an extensive gateway infrastructure in India to serve in India. As an anchor customer of the joint venture, Jio has signed a multi-year capacity purchase agreement based on certain milestones in addition to the purchase of gateways and equipment. [a] About total contract amount [the] US $ 100 million,Gio reportedly said in a statement.
Starlink made its debut in India last year after launching in beta in 2020. The service can provide users with fast downloads, but Starlink had to stop operating in India and refund pre-registered customers after the government warned the company about licensing issues. .. In addition, the company faced a major setback as the head of the country resigned earlier this year. The company aimed to establish 200,000 terminals in India by the end of this year.
Therefore, it will be interesting to see which companies can first establish their position in India’s satellite-based broadband sector. However, it is worth noting that Reliance Jio has a solid foothold in India and has an advantage in this sector. In addition, we recently confirmed that Jio has surpassed BSNL to become the largest wired broadband service in the country. Therefore, focusing on satellite-based broadband services is a logical step towards expanding the company in your home country.
What do you think of Jio’s plans for satellite-based broadband services in India? Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
