In a major development in Indias telecom sector, Reliance Jio has announced an ambitious mega plan to launch nearly 1,600 Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites and 23 ground stations across the country. Unveiled under the banner of Sovereign Satellite Connectivity at the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026, Jio aims to bring high speed satellite internet to more than 600,000 villages, remote islands, and tough border locations where traditional cables cannot reach. Space regulator IN SPACe has already cleared the architecture as technically viable, and initial test flights are expected by September 2027.
This massive announcement comes amidst an intense public clash between billionaire Elon Musk and Reliance chief Mukesh Ambani. Frustrated by long security clearance delays for his company Starlink in India, Musk recently made fiery posts on X (formerly Twitter). He accused unnamed Indian oligarchs of attempting to block Starlink entry to protect their market monopoly. Musk even took a direct sarcastic jab at Ambani, posting, Is Ambani the real boss of India?
However, Indias Ministry of Communications quickly rejected Musks claims. Officials clarified that security checks are fair, standard, and currently ongoing for all major satellite internet players, including Starlink and Reliance Jio. With Jio planning to build its entire satellite ecosystem within India, the space race between these two global business giants is officially on.
