JioSpaceFiber to venture into global market

After launching India’s first satellite-based gigabit broadband service, JioSpaceFiber now aims to go global following its commercial launch in India. Reliance Jio president Mathew Oommen said that tariffs for retail and enterprise consumers in India as well as its global clientele will be attractive and affordable.  

JioSpaceFiber is being piloted across four locations from its gateway at Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh, and the company plans to launch it commercially next year.  

“We think the opportunity for India to go global is big and Reliance will continue to review options to see how best to represent India globally and offer value to customers, leveraging the technology, capabilities we have already operationalized in India. We will be extremely competitive in any market, in any service we get into," the top executive said. 

Jio will be the first company to provide 1 gigabit speeds in India and will be able to provide high-speed internet connectivity to mobile phone users in remotest areas using its 5G outdoor small cell, which acts like a 5G base station to distribute satellite connectivity signal to either a 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, or Wi-Fi device. 

The availability of the service will depend on satellite spectrum, which the government allocates. It is, however, awaiting clarity from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India on whether it should be assigned administratively, or via auctions at a predetermined price.