TAMPA, Fla. \u2014 Jio Platforms, which owns India\u2019s largest telco, is looking to lease broadband capacity from global satellite constellations to jumpstart its own sovereign low Earth orbit (LEO) network in the country.<\/p>\n
\u201cJio connected India on the ground \u2014 now, we must connect India from the skies,\u201d Akash Ambani, the company\u2019s managing director, said June 19.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are still the remotest of villages, island communities, and border outposts where Jio network cannot reach. For them, satellite connectivity will be the bridge to the rest of India.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ambani said \u201cpartnering with leading global constellation providers by leasing satellite capacity\u201d would help accelerate the availability of services ahead of building a longer-term sovereign capability.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis dual approach will enable Jio to meet India\u2019s connectivity needs faster, while laying the foundation for the Indian satellite broadband platform of global scale,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
The same day, Jio submitted draft papers to India\u2019s capital markets regulator for an Initial Public Offering (IPO).<\/p>\n
India has been moving to open its market to foreign space players and investors in recent years, encouraging LEO operators pushing for access to the world\u2019s most populous nation.<\/p>\n
However, India\u2019s government tightened security and data compliance rules for satellite connectivity<\/a> last year, including new obligations for national security, sovereignty and promotion of local industry participation.<\/p>\n