Jio vs Starlink vs OneWeb: The Battle for India’s Satellite Internet Market
Introduction
Day by day, we humans are developing new technologies and achieving new milestones in the tech world. In the same manner, a few decades ago, the internet was founded, and it brought revolution around the world in every field.
As time passes, new modes of internet and new types of internet services started coming onto the market, making internet speed better, extending range, reducing cost, ensuring proper work in all weather conditions, and avoiding connection errors.
However, internet services still haven’t reached remote and rural areas with fast-speed internet connections like urban areas. Many countries and internet companies have come up with the solution of satellite internet, which will provide fast internet speed to rural and remote areas.
So let’s learn about the leading companies globally that are trying to spread their dominance worldwide with the help of satellite internet.
Jio Space Fiber
Jio Space Fiber is a satellite internet service launched in October 2023 by the Indian-based company Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited. The main motto of Jio Space Fiber is to spread internet services all over India, specifically in areas like remote and rural areas where traditional cable fiber internet connections are unable to reach.
The working model of Jio Space Fiber is very easy. It uses a satellite dish assembled near rural remote areas to send and receive data signals from satellites orbiting in Earth’s atmosphere.
As of February 12, 2024, Jio Space Fiber is still in the trial phase. Limited trials are being conducted in selected locations in India. The official launch date of Jio Space Fiber is yet to be revealed, but it is not confirmed at this time.
Starlink
Starlink is one of the leading companies that have strong dominance and experience in satellite internet service.
Starlink is owned and operated by the privately owned Elon Musk organization SpaceX. The satellite internet service faces major issues regarding cosmic problems, so Starlink already has a pre-built company whose work is to solve such problems.
Starlink already has more than 5,300 satellites in Earth orbit, and in the future, their plans are to skyrocket the number of satellites to 12,000. Their main aim is to provide high-speed wireless internet services in remote areas all over the globe.
The Starlink satellite internet provides head-to-head competition to cable and fiber internet services in speed. The high-speed connectivity of Starlink offers download speeds up to 506 Mbps, which will easily handle high-speed internet tasks like streaming, online gaming, remote work, etc.
OneWeb
OneWeb is a satellite internet connectivity company owned by the Eutelsat Group and is a leading player in satellite internet technology. OneWeb was founded in 2004 in Finland and became operational in an era when the world was not yet fully wired.
OneWeb’s satellite internet service operates in a Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellation, providing broadband internet services. Unlike others, OneWeb offers its satellite internet service not only in rural and remote areas but also to airlines, businesses, governments, and individual users.
Key features of OneWeb include broad coverage reaching all regions with limited fiber and cable access, as well as a hybrid network and tailored solutions. OneWeb has more than 460 satellites in orbit, with plans to launch more in the future.
Amazon Project Kuer (indirect involvement)
Amazon’s space project, Kuiper, isn’t directly competing in India’s satellite internet race, but it still shakes things up. It influences regulations and keeps other companies on their toes, pushing them to improve. While not directly involved, Kuiper indirectly helps shape India’s satellite internet future through partnerships and knowledge sharing.
Project Kuiper has applied for a license in India, This could benefit all players, including Jio, Starlink, and OneWeb.
Jio vs Starlink vs OneWeb
Provider | Satellites Launched | Active Subscribers | Geographic Reach | Market Share (Revenue) |
Starlink | 1722 | 250,000-500,000 | Global (limited) | Dominant ((Figures not public) |
Oneweb | 110 | Not Launched | Northern hemisphere (expanding) | Not generating revenue |
Jio SpaceFiber | N/A | Not Launched | India | Not generating revenue |
Price & affordability
- Jio
Service: JioSpaceFiber
Pricing: Not yet announced, but expected to be competitive. Jio has a reputation for aggressive pricing strategies in the Indian market.
Affordability: Potentially more affordable than Starlink, especially for basic plans catering to rural areas.
- Starlink
Service: Starlink internet
Pricing: Currently unavailable in India, but expected to be around $99 per month for the base plan, plus equipment costs.
Affordability: Likely to be on the higher end, potentially targeting businesses and high-end consumers initially.
- OneWeb
Service: OneWeb internet
Pricing: Not yet announced for India, but expected to be competitive.
Affordability: Similar to Jio, OneWeb might target affordability for wider adoption, especially in underserved regions.
Technology (LEO vs MEO)
Orbit Type | Altitude | Speed | Coverage | Use Cases | Analogy |
LEO (Low Earth Orbit) | 200-2,000 miles | Super Fast | Smaller areas, requires many satellites | Quick data bursts, remote areas | Speedy delivery drones |
MEO (Medium Earth Orbit) | 4,000-8,000 miles | Fast | Larger areas, moderate number of satellites | Reliable internet, wider coverage | Dependable mail carriers |
GEO (Geostationary Orbit) | 22,300 miles | Slower | Fixed location, wide area coverage | Satellite TV, broadcasting | Stationary radio towers |
Conclusion:
Nowadays, satellite internet is used primarily in rural and remote areas. However, in the upcoming future, internet satellites will cover the Earth’s orbit, and there will be no presence of fiber and cable internet access all over the globe. Change is the law of nature, and this change in internet services will bring about a revolution.