Reliance Jio weighs a 1,600–1,650-satellite LEO network in a $10–15 billion bid to challenge Starlink

Reliance Jio is considering investing $10–15 billion to build a low Earth orbit constellation of more than 1,600 satellites, and has filed for approvals with IN-SPACe and the ITU. The project aims to provide space-based broadband and direct-to-device connectivity. The plan takes aim at Starlink’s regulatory hurdles in India, particularly security concerns that its laser inter-satellite links (LISL) could route data beyond national borders. The Indian government is considering rules requiring foreign satellite services to land Indian user traffic domestically or disable LISL, while Starlink, OneWeb and Jio-SES still lack formal operating licenses in India.