Jio owns 51% of the JV, while SES holds the remaining 49%. SES is already an established player in satcom business and newly formed entity will use multi-orbit space networks that is a combination of geostationary (GEO) and medium earth orbit (MEO) satellite constellations capable of delivering multi-gigabit links (upto 100Gbps) and capacity to enterprises, mobile backhaul and retail customers across the length and breadth of India and neighbouring regions.
The press release notes that -
The joint venture will leverage SES-12, SES’s high-throughput GEO satellite serving India, and O3b mPower, SES’s next-generation MEO constellation, to extend and complement Jio’s terrestrial network, increasing access to digital services and applications. Jio will offer managed services and gateway infrastructure operations services to the joint venture.
The joint venture also aligns with the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s ‘Gati Shakti: National Master Plan for Multi-modal Connectivity’ initiative to provide integrated and seamless connectivity by implementing diverse infrastructure. It will also accelerate the achievement of the Connect India goals in the 2018 National Digital Communications Policy and the Digital India programme by expanding broadband connectivity to Indian citizens across Indian geography.
Jio who built a complete 4G network (and 5G ready) from the scratch has the missing link of satellite internet as the arch rival Airtel has invested heavily in OneWeb. With Jio Space, Jio will fulfill the missing link. With Jio's entry into satcom broadband, it have got another worthy player in the country after Elon Musk backed Starlink and Airtel backed OneWeb. But both Starlink & OneWeb would use LEO satellites and there is no clear answer that Jio-SES JV will use LEO satellites in future alongwith GEO & MEO satellites.
The article is a part of tracking Reliance Jio.
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