Reliance Jio unveils India’s first satellite-based gigabit broadband service, named JioSpace Fiber
The service is designed to bring broadband connectivity to millions of homes and businesses that have not had access to such services before.
During the 2023 India Mobile Congress in New Delhi, Reliance Jio showcased JioSpaceFiber, India’s inaugural satellite-driven GigaFiber service, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in attendance. JioSpaceFiber aims to provide high-speed internet access to underserved regions.
The primary objective of JioSpaceFiber is to expand broadband connectivity to millions of unconnected homes and businesses across India, especially in rural and remote areas that lack access to terrestrial networks.
Service Demonstrated in Four Remote Locations
To highlight the extensive reach of JioSpaceFiber, Reliance Jio connected four far-flung locations during the launch event – Gir in Gujarat, Korba in Chhattisgarh, Nabrangpur in Odisha and ONGC in Jorhat, Assam. This underscored the service’s capability to overcome geographical barriers to internet access.
Contribution to Digital Empowerment Envisioned
JioSpaceFiber aims to provide gigabit-level access to essential online services including government, education, healthcare and entertainment. Akash Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd, said the service will enable digital participation for millions, in line with the Digital India vision.
“Jio has enabled millions of homes and businesses in India to experience broadband internet for the first time. With JioSpaceFiber, we expand our reach to cover the millions yet to be connected. JioSpaceFiber will allow everyone, everywhere, to fully participate in the new digital society with gigabit access to online government, education, health, and entertainment services,” said Akash Ambani
Leveraging Satellite Backhaul to Enhance 5G Availability
The satellite network will additionally function as backhaul capacity for Jio’s 5G infrastructure, especially boosting True5G availability in rural and remote regions.
JioSpaceFiber leverages Reliance Jio’s collaboration with SES, a satellite operator. The service taps into SES’s medium earth orbit (MEO) O3b and O3b mPOWER satellites to deliver reliable, scalable and cost-effective satellite broadband across India.
Support for Digital Transformation in Rural Areas
John-Paul Hemingway, Chief Strategy Officer at SES, said their unique solution aims to accelerate digital transformation even in rural parts of India. He added that with Jio, they hope to boost the government’s Digital India program.
JioSpaceFiber augments JioFiber, Jio’s fiber broadband service, and JioAirFiber, its wireless offering. Together, these provide users with seamless, high-speed internet access regardless of location. Jio currently serves over 450 million consumers with broadband services.
Rapid 5G Rollout Places India Among Top Countries
Separately, Mukesh Ambani, Chairman of Jio’s parent company Reliance Industries, revealed that Jio has installed over 10 lakh 5G sites across India in record time, providing among the fastest 5G speeds globally.
Jio’s swift 5G rollout, which covers all 22 telecom circles in India, has been enabled by its homegrown, fully indigenous 5G technology stack. Jio has driven over 85% of India’s overall 5G network capacity.
200 Million Households to Benefit from 5G Services
Leveraging its expanded infrastructure, Jio aims to provide 5G access to over 200 million unconnected premises. Consequently, India now ranks among the top three nations globally in terms of 5G adoption, with over 125 million users.
The launch of JioSpaceFiber promises to be a game-changer for bridging the digital divide in India. Backed by partnerships and indigenous technology, the service seeks to empower millions with affordable, reliable broadband, enriching access to online services and expanding 5G connectivity across the country.
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