Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Jio is on the verge of obtaining critical landing rights and market access authorizations from the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe). According to people familiar with the situation, these permits are critical for the telecom giant to launch its Satellite-based gigabit fiber services across India. 

People familiar with the situation told ET that Jio has completed all necessary submissions to IN-SPACe, the space industry’s governing body, with the long-awaited authorizations expected soon. These authorizations are required for the development of global satellite bandwidth capacity in India. 

To further explain the complexities of the IN-SPACe authorization procedure, it requires approvals from numerous ministries as well as tight security clearances. 

Jio Platforms collaborated with Luxembourg-based satellite communications player SES last year, launching a 51:49 joint venture aimed at supplying broadband connection via satellites. This action catapulted Jio into a space previously occupied by Eutelsat OneWeb, Elon Musk’s Starlink, Amazon, and the Tatas. 

Reliance Jio

While Jio’s satellite arm was granted a GMPCS (global mobile personal communications by satellite services) license by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), IN-SPACe approvals are still waiting. 

The new Telecommunications Act of 2023, which provides legislative basis for the administrative allocation of satellite spectrum, is expected to speed up the process through the DoT, according to persons familiar with the situation. 

According to IN-SPACe, India’s space economy might reach $44 billion by 2033, representing a significant rise from its current 2% global contribution to an expected 8%. 

Satellite internet works by providing internet connectivity via a constellation of tiny satellites orbiting the Earth.

Here’s a rundown of its main features: 

1. Satellite internet provides worldwide coverage, reaching out to remote or underdeveloped places where regular internet infrastructure is limited or unavailable. 
2. Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellites: For example, Starlink employs LEO satellites that are located closer to Earth than regular satellites. When compared to geostationary satellites, this proximity reduces latency (time delay) in data transmission.

3. It offers high-speed internet that is comparable to or occasionally exceeds the performance of regular wired connections, while real speeds can vary depending on factors such as location and network congestion.

4. Installation Ease: Users are provided with a small satellite dish and modem for installation. These gadgets connect to the satellite constellation, allowing access to the internet without the need for massive infrastructure.

5. Difficulties: Satellite internet may experience lag due to signal travel time to and from space, weather interference influencing signal intensity, and service outages during satellite changes.

The post Reliance Jio nears crucial approvals to launch satellite-based internet services in India: Report appeared first on IndiaFrontline.