Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: IE
Context: Reliance Jio has successfully demonstrated JioSpaceFiber, India’s first satellite-based gigabit internet service, at the India Mobile Congress.
This technology, developed in partnership with Luxembourg-based SES, leverages medium Earth orbit (MEO) satellites, particularly SES’s O3v and o3b mPOWER networks.
How is it different from Elong Musk’s Starlink?
Unlike the more common low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet (e.g., StarLink or OneWeb), JioSpaceFiber uses MEO satellites, orbiting at a greater distance from the planet, which may result in higher latency (latency is the time that data takes to transfer across the network). However, MEO satellites can cover larger areas with fewer satellites.
To access JioSpaceFiber, a larger satellite dish may be required. Reliance Jio has already connected four remote locations using this technology.
What is Satellite Internet?
Satellite internet is an online connection provided by satellites in space. Internet service providers launch satellites into orbit around Earth, and these satellites communicate with user equipment, including a modem and satellite dish, to transmit and receive data. It’s advantageous for connecting remote or rural areas and enabling multi-device access.
