Reliance welcomes Starlink as Jio awaits satellite clearances ahead of IPO

Summary

• Reliance welcomes competition: Reliance Industries said on October 16 that it welcomes competition in India’s satellite communications market, including from Elon Musk’s Starlink. The company added that Jio’s own satellite services are awaiting government clearances.
• Regulatory approvals remain a hurdle: Starlink, Jio’s satellite venture with SES and Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb have received relevant satellite communications licences, but reporting indicates that the operators are still awaiting clearances required to begin commercial services.
• Jio IPO approaches: The statement comes ahead of Jio Platforms’ proposed ₹30,213 crore initial public offering (IPO). Anchor investor bidding is scheduled for October 19, followed by public subscription from October 21 to October 23, with a potential valuation of approximately $107 billion to $108 billion at the upper end of the price band.

MUMBAI, October 16, 2026 — Reliance Industries has publicly welcomed competition from Elon Musk’s Starlink in India’s satellite communications market, rejecting suggestions that domestic telecom interests are seeking to obstruct the US company’s entry. The conglomerate also said its own satellite services, operated through its Jio business, are awaiting government clearances.

In a statement published on Friday, Reliance said it supports investment and innovation from both Indian and international companies, provided they operate within the country’s laws and regulatory framework. The response followed public criticism from Musk over the regulatory process governing Starlink’s proposed entry into India. 

Reliance said the government applies the same process to domestic and foreign applicants and noted that Jio’s satellite services are also awaiting clearances.

The company added that it has never feared competition, pointing to Jio’s entry into India’s mobile market in 2016. Jio has since built a subscriber base exceeding 530 million, according to the company’s statement and published reporting. Reliance said competition should ultimately benefit customers through improved services and greater access to connectivity. 

The public response comes shortly before a major capital-market event for Jio Platforms, Reliance Industries’ digital services and telecom holding company. The company’s proposed IPO is expected to be one of India’s largest public offerings, drawing attention to its growth plans across mobile connectivity, broadband and digital services.

Jio Platforms has set an IPO price band of ₹1,065 to ₹1,119 per share. The fresh issue of up to 27 crore equity shares could raise approximately ₹30,213 crore at the upper end of the range, implying a valuation of around ₹10.3 lakh crore, or approximately $107 billion to $108 billion, depending on the exchange rate used.

Anchor investor bidding is scheduled for October 19, while the public issue is set to open on October 21 and close on October 23. Shares are expected to list on October 28, subject to the completion of the IPO process. 

The satellite communications regulatory landscape

India’s satellite broadband market includes several operators pursuing different business models. Starlink, Jio’s satellite venture with Luxembourg-based SES and Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb are among the companies seeking to provide satellite connectivity in the country.

Although the companies have received relevant satellite communications licences, regulatory approval involves more than obtaining a licence. Operators must satisfy applicable government requirements before launching commercial services. Reuters reported on October 16 that the three providers were still awaiting required security clearances. 

The wider regulatory framework includes spectrum assignment, security requirements and technical conditions governing satellite communications. However, the precise status of individual approvals and the outstanding requirements for each operator should be confirmed through official government documentation before being described as identical in every respect.

The distinction matters because a satellite communications licence does not, by itself, establish that a provider has completed every requirement for commercial service. The timing of a launch depends on the relevant approvals and the operator’s readiness to meet the applicable conditions.

The dispute has also highlighted broader questions about how India should allocate satellite spectrum. Unlike terrestrial mobile spectrum, satellite spectrum allocation has been the subject of a policy debate over administrative assignment and auctions. The Telecommunications Act, 2023 provides the legislative framework for spectrum assignment, but the details of an operator’s final authorisations should not be inferred solely from the law’s existence.

Different satellite business models

Starlink’s business is built around a low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellite constellation designed to provide broadband connectivity directly to users through satellite terminals. The service can be particularly useful in locations where fibre networks and terrestrial mobile coverage are limited.

Jio’s partnership with SES follows a different approach, with SES’s medium-Earth-orbit O3b mPOWER constellation and geostationary satellite assets designed to support high-capacity connectivity for enterprises, telecom networks and other customers. This model can support network backhaul and connectivity for remote locations, rather than relying exclusively on individual consumer satellite dishes.

The different approaches mean the companies may compete for some customers while serving different connectivity requirements in other segments. Satellite services can complement terrestrial networks in remote areas, at industrial sites and for organisations that need connectivity beyond the reach of conventional infrastructure.

For Jio, satellite connectivity could broaden its service portfolio and provide additional options for enterprise and remote-area coverage. For Starlink, India represents a potentially significant market, although commercial prospects will depend on regulatory approvals, pricing, equipment costs and demand.

The IPO backdrop

Reliance’s statement arrives at a sensitive point for Jio Platforms as it prepares to enter the public markets. Investors are likely to assess the company’s established telecom business alongside its future opportunities in broadband, enterprise services and other digital activities.

The satellite communications dispute introduces an additional regulatory issue into the public discussion around Jio and its potential competitors. Reliance’s statement seeks to establish that its satellite venture faces the same broad clearance process and that the company supports competition.

However, the statement does not itself determine the regulatory status of any operator. Government approvals, spectrum decisions and the timing of commercial launches remain separate matters.

The wider significance is that India’s satellite broadband market is developing at the intersection of private investment, telecom competition and national regulatory requirements. The extent to which satellite services expand access to connectivity will depend on the timely completion of approvals and the ability of operators to offer commercially viable services.

Why this matters

• Competition in satellite broadband: Starlink’s proposed entry could broaden connectivity options in remote and underserved areas, while Jio and OneWeb pursue their own satellite strategies.
• Regulatory consistency: Reliance’s statement highlights the importance of applying transparent and consistent rules to domestic and international applicants. The status of each operator’s clearances should be assessed using official updates.
• Jio’s IPO: The proposed ₹30,213 crore issue places Jio Platforms under greater investor scrutiny as it prepares to list. Regulatory developments and the company’s future growth opportunities are part of the wider investment context.
• Complementary connectivity models: Direct-to-consumer satellite broadband and high-capacity satellite backhaul serve overlapping but distinct requirements, potentially expanding connectivity choices for households, businesses and telecom operators.

FAQs

Q1: What did Reliance Industries say about Starlink?

Reliance said on October 16 that it welcomes competition in India’s satellite communications market, including from Starlink. It also stated that Jio’s own satellite services are awaiting government clearances.

Q2: Which companies are seeking to provide satellite connectivity in India?

Starlink, Jio’s satellite venture with SES and Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb are among the operators pursuing satellite communications services in India. Their ability to launch commercial services depends on the relevant regulatory requirements and approvals.

Q3: Why have satellite broadband launches been delayed?

Operators must complete the applicable regulatory and security clearance processes before commercial launch. Reporting on October 16 indicated that Starlink, Jio and OneWeb were still awaiting required clearances. The precise outstanding requirements may differ by operator and should be confirmed through official updates.

Q4: When is the Jio Platforms IPO scheduled?

Anchor investor bidding is scheduled for October 19, 2026. The public issue is set to open on October 21 and close on October 23, with listing expected on October 28, subject to completion of the process.

Q5: How much could Jio Platforms raise through the IPO?

The proposed fresh issue of up to 27 crore shares could raise approximately ₹30,213 crore at the upper end of the ₹1,065–₹1,119 price band. The implied valuation is around ₹10.3 lakh crore, or approximately $107 billion to $108 billion.