Reliance Jio is planning a test flight in September 2027 for its proposed 1,600-satellite low Earth orbit (LEO) network, according to a report by The Economic Times.

As part of the test flight, Jio will send a few satellites into space to check its hardware, software and other technologies. The company is expected to begin large-scale deployment of the network in early 2028.

Jio plans to deploy around 400-450 satellites by 2030 and complete the 1,600-satellite constellation by 2035. The company has also filed an application with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to secure the required orbital slots.

Around 90-100 satellites are expected to be deployed within two to three quarters after the test launch. This could allow India to start getting satellite connectivity in 2028.

The network is being developed to provide high-speed broadband connectivity, especially in areas that are not well served by existing networks.