Reliance Industries is planning a major entry into the satellite communications business with a multi-billion-dollar investment in low earth orbit (LEO) satellites, according to a report by The Economic Times.
The report said the move could position Reliance directly against global satellite internet players such as Starlink, Amazon Kuiper and Eutelsat OneWeb.
According to the report, the satellite business will be housed under Jio Platforms, which already runs Reliance’s telecom and digital operations. The company is said to be exploring both organic and inorganic expansion options as it looks to build India’s answer to Starlink.
The Economic Times report said Reliance has formed six teams to work on different parts of the satellite project, including launches, payloads, satellites and user terminals.
The report also claimed that Mukesh Ambani is personally leading the initiative along with senior executives including Reliance president PK Bhatnagar, Jio Platforms CEO Mathew Oommen and senior vice president Aayush Bhatnagar.
According to the report, Reliance has also started discussions with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) regarding orbital slot filings at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), which allocates radio frequencies and orbital positions for satellites globally.
LEO satellites orbit much closer to Earth than traditional satellites and are considered important for high-speed internet connectivity, especially in remote and rural areas.
Companies across the world are investing heavily in this segment as satellite internet is increasingly being seen as a strategic technology with both commercial and security importance.
The ET report noted that the Indian government is also keen on building a domestic satellite communications ecosystem to reduce dependence on foreign companies.
The report added that China has already filed plans for around 200,000 satellites across multiple LEO constellations at the ITU, while several countries are rapidly expanding their satellite capabilities.
According to the report, Reliance is also examining acquisition opportunities in the satellite space, especially companies that already own orbital slots and infrastructure.
This could help the company speed up its entry into the market, where players like Starlink and OneWeb already have a presence.
Reliance already has a partnership with satellite communications company SES for medium earth orbit satellite services.
The report said discussions are still at an exploratory stage and no final timeline or investment amount has been decided yet. However, Reliance may look to have LEO satellites operational within the next two to four years.
The development comes as the satellite internet race in India heats up, with telecom, technology and global space companies looking at the country as a major future market for broadband connectivity and digital infrastructure.