Reliance Jio, SES announce JV for affordable satellite internet services

Jio, a wholly owned subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), on February 14 announced a joint venture with SES, Luxembourg-based satellite services provider, to deliver scalable and affordable broadband services in India.

The partnership will enable Jio to offer next gen broadband services in India leveraging satellite technology. The two companies will form a joint venture with Jio Platforms Ltd and SES owning 51 per cent and 49 per cent stake, respectively.

The JV will have up to 100 Gbps capacity from SES—a satellite-based content connectivity service provider—and will leverage Jio’s reach in India, the statement said. Jio, as an anchor customer of the JV, has signed a multi-year capacity purchase agreement based on certain milestones, along with gateways and equipment purchase, with a total contract value of $100 million.

Akash Ambani, Director of Jio, said, “While we continue to expand our fibre-based connectivity and FTTH business and invest in 5G, this new joint venture with SES will further accelerate the growth of multigigabit broadband. With additional coverage and capacity offered by satellite communications services, Jio will be able to connect the remotest towns and villages, enterprises, government establishments, and consumers to the new Digital India. We are excited about this new journey combining our massive reach and customer base with SES’s innovative leadership and expertise in the satellite industry.”

Steve Collar, CEO of SES said, “This joint venture with JPL is a great example of how SES can complement even the most extensive terrestrial networks to deliver high-quality connectivity, and positively affect the lives of hundreds of millions of people. We look forward to this joint venture whereby we can play a role in promoting digital inclusion in India.”

The joint venture also aligns with the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s ‘Gati Shakti: National Master Plan for Multi-modal Connectivity’ initiative to provide integrated and seamless connectivity by implementing diverse infrastructure. It will also accelerate the achievement of the Connect India goals in the 2018 National Digital Communications Policy and the Digital India programme by expanding broadband connectivity to Indian citizens across Indian geography. BCS Bureau