Jio satellite network and service expansion

Jio has announced plans to deploy a constellation of approximately 1,600 satellites into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at an altitude of 650 kilometers. The initiative aims to provide broadband connectivity to remote, rural, and mountainous regions in India where traditional infrastructure is impractical. The company intends to conduct test flights in 2027, followed by large-scale launches in early 2028, with a goal of reaching a 400 to 500 satellite network by 2030 and the full constellation by 2035.

In a related expansion of its satellite-based services, JioStar has entered a multi-year agreement with SES to utilize the SES IS-20 satellite. This partnership is designed to expand television channel distribution across the Indian subcontinent via C-band and Ku-band services. Alongside this expansion, JioStar has initiated anti-piracy legal actions in Odisha, filing multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) against local cable operators for the unauthorized retransmission of channels such as Star Plus and Star Sports.