Reliance Jio targets September 2027 test launch for 1,600-satellite LEO network

Jio is reportedly planning a September 2027 test flight for a 1,600-satellite low-earth-orbit constellation, with initial Indian broadband connectivity targeted for 2028. The network could improve digital access in underserved markets, supporting wider reach for online commerce and connected services.

— Source publishedTue, 8 Sept, 2026, 05:30 IST·First seen Tue, 8 Sept, 2026, 05:34 IST·Source ET Small Business

What happened

Reliance Jio plans a September 2027 test launch for its 1,600-satellite LEO constellation, targeting Indian broadband coverage from 2028. It aims to deploy

Key facts

  • 1,600 satellites
  • September 2027 test flight
  • 400-450 satellites by 2030
  • constellation completion by 2035
  • 90-100 coverage satellites
  • 100-150 Gbps per satellite
  • 30-32 satellites over India
  • 4-4.8 Tbps India capacity
  • 650 km altitude

Why this matters

Retail, commerce and connectivity partners should assess early alliances with Jio around satellite-enabled access, particularly for rural customer acquisition, logistics visibility and digital-service distribution.

What to watch

  • Indian spectrum, licensing, landing-rights, and satellite-communications policy decisions.
  • Confirmed satellite manufacturing, launch-provider, ground-station, and terminal-supply contracts.
  • Pricing and bundling announcements for enterprise backhaul, community Wi-Fi, and household service.
  • Pilot geography, measured throughput, terminal subsidies, and service-level commitments.
  • Evidence of integration with JioMart, Reliance Retail, JioPay, or Kirana digitization programs.
  • Competitive responses from Starlink, OneWeb/Eutelsat, Amazon Kuiper, and terrestrial 5G/FWA providers.
  • Prioritize district-level demand maps that combine current weak connectivity, high offline retail density, and Jio distribution presence.
  • Test low-bandwidth commerce journeys, vernacular video-assisted selling, offline-first ordering, and merchant tools for intermittently connected markets.
  • Monitor whether Jio positions LEO terminals for Kiranas, logistics hubs, fuel stations, and rural service centers before consumer households.
  • Evaluate partnerships with local fulfillment, fintech, and telecom-channel operators in prospective satellite-served clusters.

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