Reliance Jio to place 1,600 satellites in 650-km orbit, higher than Elon Musk’s Starlink

Reliance Jio plans to deploy 1,600 satellites into a 650-kilometer orbit for its broadband internet service. This orbital altitude is significantly higher than the approximately 550-kilometer orbit used by SpaceX's Starlink constellation. The company aims to provide high-speed internet access across India, targeting underserved and remote areas where terrestrial infrastructure is limited.

The strategic decision to place satellites at a higher altitude may offer extended coverage per satellite and potentially fewer ground stations required for a given geographic area. However, it could also introduce greater latency compared to lower-orbit constellations. Jio's move signals a significant investment in the burgeoning satellite internet market, posing direct competition to existing and planned low-Earth orbit satellite internet providers.