Jio has truly changed the landscape of India’s telecom industry. After launching affordable 4G and then 5G data plans in India, the telco is now set to offer India its first satellite-based giga fiber service. Targeting squarely at Elon Musk’s Starlink, the Mukesh Ambani-led company launched its own satellite broadband service at the India Mobile Congress in October 2023.
Jio SpaceFiber is expected to launch in India in early 2024. The service will be available across the country at highly affordable prices, says the company. Jio SpaceFiber aims to fast-track the digital inclusivity across all locations in India including the remotest ones. Besides providing reliable, low latency and high-speed internet and entertainment services, the satellite network will also support additional capacity for mobile backhaul, further enhancing the availability and scale of Jio True5G in the remotest parts of the country.
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What is Jio SpaceFiber?
Jio SpaceFiber is a satellite broadband service that uses medium earth orbit (MEO) satellite technology to provide high-speed internet access to remote and underserved areas. MEO satellites orbit the Earth closer than traditional geostationary satellites, which results in lower latency and faster speeds.
Jio has partnered with SES to access the world’s latest medium earth orbit (MEO) satellite technology. MEO constellation is the only constellation capable of delivering truly unique Gigabit, fiber-like services from space.
SES is the first satellite telecom network provider company to effectively run and monetise satellites in two distinct orbits. It has sent more than 70 satellites into space, serving both geostationary orbit (GEO) and medium Earth orbit (MEO), enabling the delivery of video and data services to customers around the globe.
Jio SpaceFiber is designed to provide high-speed broadband internet access to underserved and remote areas of India. It is also expected to be used by businesses and government organizations for a variety of applications, such as enterprise internet access, backhaul for mobile networks, and connecting remote villages and schools.
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Which are the operating areas for Jio SpaceFiber?
Jio states that four of the remotest locations in India have already been connected with Jio SpaceFiber – Gir in Gujarat, Korba in Chattisgarh, Nabrangpur in Odissa and ONGC-Jorhat in Assam.
How does Jio SpaceFiber compare to Starlink?
Jio SpaceFibre is similar to Starlink in that it is a satellite broadband service that uses MEO satellite technology. However, there are some key differences between the two services. JioSpaceFiber is currently only available in India, while Starlink is available in over 30 countries. It is expected to arrive in India soon.
JioSpaceFiber is using MEO satellites from SES, while Starlink is using its own custom-built satellites. JioSpaceFiber has not yet announced pricing or plans, while Starlink offers plans starting at $99 per month.
How can you sign up for Jio SpaceFiber?
Reliance Jio has not yet announced how to sign up for Jio SpaceFiber. However, it is expected that users will be able to sign up for the service through the Reliance Jio website or app.
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