Reliance Jio-SES JV Orbit Connect gets IN-SPACe authorisation to enter satcom space

Kolkata: The stage is set for another battle between Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, this time in the satellite communications space.
Orbit Connect India, a 51:49 JV between Mukesh Ambani’s Jio Platforms (JPL) and Luxembourg-based satcom player, SES, has bagged the crucial landing rights and market access authorisations from space industry regulator, Indian National Space Promotion & Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), a senior Jio executive said.

This will pit the company against Bharti Enterprises-backed Eutelsat OneWeb in India's nascent satcom space. Elon Musk's Starlink and Amazon's Kuiper may also enter the Indian satcom market in the near future. Eutelsat OneWeb was the first satellite player to receive IN-SPACe authorisation last November to start commercial broadband-from-space services in India.

The Jio executive added that the JPL-SES JV entity has also applied to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) seeking trial satellite spectrum in both ‘Ka’ and 'Ku’ bands through the administrative route for running advanced trials on its nationwide satellite broadband network with key clients.

“The company is hopeful of an early allocation of such demo satellite airwaves to start trials,” the executive said, asking not to be named.

‘Ka’ band satellite spectrum (in 27.5 to 29.1 GHz and 29.5 to 30 GHz band ranges) is required for operating Orbit Connect’s earth station in Andhra Pradesh, while airwaves in the ₹Ku’ band (14 GHz) are needed for user access terminals (UATs).

Earlier this year, the Jio-SES satcom JV entity secured a GMPCS (global mobile personal communications by satellite services) licence from DoT. Eutelsat OneWeb has also got this license.

Both GMPCS permit and IN-SPACe authorisation are vital for launching satellite broadband services in India.

People close to Jio, though, said a commercial rollout of broadband from space services in India hinges on how rapidly the new government finalises modalities around administrative allocation of satellite spectrum and its pricing. “Jio is awaiting clarity from the government on the allocation of satellite spectrum and its charging mechanism,” one of the persons said.

Jio did not respond to ET’s queries.

Both Eutelsat OneWeb and Orbit Connect India are striving to become the first to start broadbandfrom-space services in India ahead of the likes of Starlink, Amazon’s Kuiper and Tata group.

Starlink and Amazon’s Kuiper have also applied for GMPCS permits and for IN-SPACe authorisations but are awaiting approvals.
IN-SPACe recently estimated that India’s space economy to potentially touch $44 billion by 2033, accounting for about 8% of the global share, up from about 2% currently.

Broadband services in India via satellites will primarily be targeted at populations now underserved by traditional terrestrial broadband solutions, including in rural and remote areas with limited or zero access to high-speed internet.