Jio receives Letter of Intent from DoT to provide satellite-based broadband service in India

India’s largest telecom operator, Reliance Jio, is preparing to offer satellite-based broadband services via Jio Satellite Communications Ltd (JSCL) in India. Earlier this year, the company applied for the Global Mobile Personal Communications by Satellite Services (GMPCS) license, and now it has received approval from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to start high-speed satellite broadband services.

As per the report by the Economic Times, JSCL has received the Letter of Intent (LoI) from the Department of Telecommunications. The company will be able to operate the GMPCS in licensed service areas. The licenses are valid for a period of 20 years and include data and voice services via satellite. After Bharti Airtel’s OneWeb, Jio Satcom arm is the second company to receive DoT approval to provide high-speed satellite-based broadband services in India.

The satellite networks will function in combination with the geostationary (GEO), low earth orbit (LEO), and medium earth orbit (MEO) satellite constellations to deliver the service. Jio has also partnered with Luxembourg’s SES, a global Satcom company, a 51:49 joint venture with Jio Space Technology Ltd, to provide satellite-based broadband services in the country.