15.2.22

Jio Platforms, SES Form JV to Offer Satcom-based Broadband Services

Mukesh Ambani-owned Jio Platforms and Luxembourg’s SES, a global satellite communications company, have formed a 51:49 joint venture to deliver broadband services in India through satellites, entering a space where the likes of Sunil Mittal-led OneWeb, Elon Musk’s Starlink, Amazon and the Tatashave already announced forays.

The JPL-SES joint venture — Jio Space Technology — will develop extensive gateway infrastructure in India to provide satcom services within the country. It will use multi-orbit space networks using a combination of geostationary and medium earth orbit satellite constellations capable of delivering multi-gigabit links and capacity to enterprises, mobile backhaul and retail customers across India and neighbouring regions.

“Reliance Jio will be an anchor customer of the joint venture, and has signed a multi-year capacity purchase agreement, based on certain milestones along with gateways and equipment purchase with a total contract value of circa $100 million,” Jio Platforms said in a joint statement Monday. JPL, which is the parent of Reliance Jio, is the digital unit of Reliance Industries.

Jio will also offer managed services and gateway infrastructure operations services to the new joint venture. The joint venture company will be able to access up to 100 Gbps capacity from SES and leverage Jio’s position and sales reach in India to unlock the satellite services market opportunity. “This new joint venture with SES will further accelerate the growth of multi-gigabit 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,” Jio director Akash Ambani said in the statement.

No comments: