Jio Platforms Ltd. and satellite-based content connectivity solutions provider SES have recently announced a joint venture coined Jio Space Technology Ltd., to deliver high performance, affordable, and scalable satellite-based broadband services in India. SES and JPL will have 49% and 51% stakes in the newly created venture respectively.
Jio Space Technology will make use of multi-orbit space networks that is a mix of medium earth orbit (MEO) and geostationary (GEO) satellite constellations, that can offer multi-gigabit links and capacity to mobile backhaul, enterprises, and retail customers living in India and its neighboring countries.
The joint venture will be equipped with 100 Gbps capacity from SES and will leverage Jio’s leading position in India to grab the market opportunity.
Furthermore, it will focus on creating an extensive gateway infrastructure in India to provide services within the country. Jio will be one of the prime customers of the joint venture, as it has signed a long-term capacity purchase agreement, with certain milestones including gateways & equipment purchase at around USD 100 million.
Notably, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for better access to broadband services at the dawn of the new digital economy. This joint venture will serve as a link to unconnected areas within India, offering access to government services, remote health, and distance learning options.
Jio Platforms is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Reliance Industries and has been building best in class all-IP data strong network with 4G LTE technology. The company is ready to mold itself to all futuristic technologies, and can be upgraded to support higher volume data with the introduction of 5G, 6G, and so on.
On the other hand, SES seeks to provide the best internet experiences on earth by supplying the highest quality video content and providing full-fledged connectivity. SES operates a multi-orbit constellation of satellites with high performance and global coverage, including the low-latency, commercially-proven Medium Earth Orbit O3b.
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