Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries is exploring a multi-billion-dollar entry into the low earth orbit (LEO) satellite segment under Jio Platforms, in what could become India’s answer to Starlink, according to a report by The Economic Times today.

The ET report said the move signals Reliance’s intent to build a domestic satellite communications ecosystem, positioning itself alongside global players such as Amazon Kuiper and Eutelsat OneWeb. The initiative is currently in an exploratory phase, with no final investment size or rollout timeline disclosed yet.

As per the report, the proposed satellite business will sit within Jio Platforms, which already anchors Reliance’s telecom and digital services. The company is evaluating both organic and inorganic routes to scale its capabilities, including potential acquisitions of firms with existing orbital slots and infrastructure to fast-track market entry.

The report further noted that Reliance has set up six dedicated teams to work across critical components of the project, including satellite design, payloads, launch strategy, and user terminals. Mukesh Ambani is said to be directly overseeing the initiative, along with senior leadership such as Reliance president P.K. Bhatnagar, Jio Platforms CEO Mathew Oommen, and senior vice president Aayush Bhatnagar.

In parallel, Reliance has initiated discussions with the Department of Telecommunications for orbital slot filings at the International Telecommunication Union, which governs the global allocation of satellite spectrum and orbital positions.

The focus on LEO satellites is significant, as they operate closer to Earth compared to traditional geostationary satellites, enabling lower latency and faster internet speeds. This makes them particularly suited for expanding broadband access in remote and underserved regions, a key priority for India’s digital inclusion agenda.