Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) is exploring a large investment in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite communications as it looks to enter a market currently led by global operators such as SpaceX’s Starlink and other international firms, according to people aware of the development cited by The Economic Times.
The satellite business is expected to operate under Jio Platforms, which houses Reliance’s telecom and digital businesses. Sources said discussions are underway internally, though the company has not finalised investment size or launch timelines.
As per the reports, Reliance has created 6 teams to work on separate areas including satellites, launches, payloads, and user terminals. Meetings have also reportedly taken place with satellite technology firms over the past few months.
The company is understood to be considering both internal development and acquisitions as part of the project. One option being examined involves acquiring companies that already possess orbital slots or operational infrastructure.
The project is being overseen by Reliance chairman Mukesh Ambani along with executives including PK Bhatnagar, Mathew Oommen and Aayush Bhatnagar.
The LEO satellite market has seen increased investment from companies and governments in recent years due to rising demand for communication networks and strategic infrastructure.
China has reportedly filed plans with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for close to 200,000 satellites across multiple LEO constellations. Several countries are also increasing spending in the segment as satellite networks become more important for communication and security systems.
Companies currently operating in the market include Amazon’s Project Kuiper, Eutelsat OneWeb, AST SpaceMobile and Sateliot.
The Bharti Group is among the largest shareholders in Eutelsat, while Reliance Jio already has a partnership with SES, a medium earth orbit satellite operator.
As per the report, Reliance has started discussions with the Department of Telecommunications regarding orbital slot filings with the ITU, which allocates spectrum and orbital positions for satellite systems globally.
Separately, the government and space regulator IN-SPACe are understood to have reviewed the feasibility of a domestic non-geostationary satellite constellation earlier this year for communication, surveillance and infrastructure.
As of May 6, 2026, 12:15 pm, Reliance Industries share price was trading at ₹1,446.20, down 1.19% from the previous closing price.
Reliance’s satellite plans come as India examines the need for domestic communication infrastructure and non-geostationary satellite networks for connectivity and other requirements.
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Published on: May 6, 2026, 2:00 PM IST
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