Reliance Jio Launches Kumbh JioPhone Suite for the Prayagraj Kumbh Mela

Reliance Jio, the telecom wing of the Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), has released the Kumbh JioPhone suite days ahead of the Prayagraj Kumbh Mela. The Mela is the world’s largest congregation. The suite is specially designed for millions of pilgrims who will attend the holy dip.

Details of the Prayagraj Kumbh Mela

The Prayagraj Kumbh Mela sees more than 125 million pilgrims take a divine dip for a 55-day duration. Reliance Jio has stated that it is committed to improving the connectivity between family members during the Mela. The telecom company stated that the Reliance JioPhone is located at the core of innovation. The Kumbh JioPhone is an initiative to demonstrate that Reliance Jio is focusing on delivering true and disproportionate value to the users of the Reliance JioPhone.

Details of the Kumbh JioPhone suite

The functionality of the KumbhJioPhone is available to new and existing Reliance JioPhone users. Users can avail of these functionalities on their Reliance JioPhone via the JioStore.

Features of the Kumbh JioPhone suite

The suite will provide rich and in-depth information services regarding the Kumbh to Reliance JioPhone users. This information includes details of the pilgrimage; travel details relating to busses, special trains, and the like, in real-time; the facility of booking tickets and receiving updates; emergency helpline numbers; Yatri Ashray at stations; pre-published religious day and bath schedules; railway camp mela; and area maps and routes.

In terms of the Kumbh Mela devotional content, the Kumbh Radio will provide 24 x 7 access to hymns and devotional songs to ensure pilgrims are connected to the Almighty at all times. Additionally, there is the Kumbh Darshan, which is a special telecast of Kumbh programs and events on JioTV. The Kumbh Darshan also contains archives of the previous Kumbh Melas.

In terms of entertainment, pilgrims can take a daily Kumbh quiz. There are also several games to entertain pilgrims after and during the pilgrimage.

In terms of news alerts, the suite provides important announcements and alerts around and in the Kumbh Mela.

The applications included in the suite are JioCinema, JioTV, JioGames, JioSaavn Music, WhatsApp, Facebook, Google voice assistant and Google Maps, and YouTube.

There are also additional features that go beyond the offerings of the Reliance JioPhone. These include unlimited internet use and free roaming, local, and STD calls from any location in India to any network.

A special feature of the suite is the ‘Family Locator’. This feature helps users stay close to their loved ones by providing their exact location. If users are unable to locate their friends and family, they can utilize the ‘Khoya Paya’ feature. This translates to ‘Lost and Found’. With this feature, users can reunite with their near and dear ones.

Summary: Reliance Jio has launched the Kumbh JioPhone suite to help pilgrims during the Prayagraj Kumbh Mela. With the suite, pilgrims can receive all the digital help they need during the 55 days of the pilgrimage.

Reliance Jio Announces JioPhone New Year Offer

Reliance Jio, the telecom wing of the Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), has announced a JioPhone New Year offer, in celebration of the New Year. Under this offer, subscribers have the opportunity of getting the Reliance JioPhone with free usage for six months at INR 1,095. In this scheme, subscribers can get the 4G-enabled handset at INR 501 as well as INR 99 vouchers for six months, which gives calling and data benefits.

How to avail of the offer

In order to avail of the Reliance JioPhone New Year offer, subscribers must first purchase the Jio Festive Gift Card for INR 1,095 online, via Reliance Jio’s official website. Once this is done, subscribers can pick up the card from any one of the company’s offline stores. Alternatively, the telecom company will deliver the card to the subscribers’ homes. Subscribers will be required to present the card at any of the offline stores along with their own feature phone.

Since this offer for the New Year is applicable under the ‘JioPhone Monsoon Hungama’ scheme, subscribers must exchange their own feature phones to Reliance Jio, which must be in working condition. The ‘JioPhone Monsoon Hungama’ offer was announced earlier in 2018. It gave subscribers the chance to exchange their old feature phones for a new Reliance JioPhone for just INR 501.

Once the telecom company’s representative conducts a check on the phone’s condition, it will give the subscriber a new Jio SIM card and Reliance JioPhone. The SIM card will be valid for a period of 12 months.

Specifications of the Reliance JioPhone

The Reliance JioPhone is India’s first 4G-enabled feature phone. It features a 2.4-inch QVGA TFT display. The phone sports a 128 MB RAM and 4 GB of internal storage. This storage can be expanded up to 128 GB with a microSD card. It runs on KaiOS operating system and is powered by a dual-core processor. The battery is 2000mAh. The telecom company has claimed that this battery will be able to offer a standby time of 15 days.

In terms of connectivity, the Reliance JioPhone supports Voice-Over-LTE (VoLTE), 4G, Wi-Fi, 3.5G, Voice-over-Wi-Fi (VoWi-Fi), LTE Cat4 DL, Bluetooth, GPS, FM Radio, and Near Field Communication (NFC). The phone sports a VGA front camera and a 2 MP rear camera as well.

The progress of Reliance JioPhone

Reliance Jio has stated that voice commands being used on the Reliance JioPhone platform are surpassing those on smart-phones by approximately five times. Users of the 4G-enabled feature-phones are spending more time utilizing the Internet and apps than smart-phone users. Recently, WhatsApp, the popular messaging app, has been introduced to the Reliance JioPhone platform as well.

Specifications of the JioPhone 2

The JioPhone 2 costs INR 2,999. It runs on the KaiOS operating system. It sports a QWERTY style keypad, a 2 MP rear camera, and a 0.3 MP front camera. It also sports a 4 GB ROM, a 512 MB RAM, and a 2000mAh removable battery.

Summary: Reliance Jio has announced a JioPhone New Year offer. Under this scheme, subscribers can get the Reliance JioPhone along with six months of free usage at INR 1,095.

RIL Launches JioSaavn – South Asia’s Largest Streaming Platform

Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), the oil-to-telecom conglomerate, has launched JioSaavn, South Asia’s largest entertainment, streaming, and artist app. The company has launched this platform via its subsidiary, Saavn Media Private Limited. The new integrated app will be available to Reliance Jio users on every app store, which includes the Jio app store, which is available on the JioPhone and jio.com/jiosaavn.

Details of the Saavn acquisition

RIL had acquired Saavn in March 2018. It was the most valuable music streaming platform in South Asia, with an implied valuation of the combined entity at more than USD 1 billion. Currently, Reliance Jio has more than 252 million subscribers. The JioSaavn app combines the streaming media expertise of Saavn and Reliance Jio’s digital ecosystem services.

Details of the JioSaavn app

Using the integrated JioSaavn app, Reliance Jio users can anticipate a suite of new music experiences and in-app products. This includes localized vernacular display, interactive lyrics feature, exclusive video content, and custom integrations with live events and concerts. These will roll out over the next few months. Additionally, Reliance Jio users will get an extended free trial of JioSaavn Pro for 90 days. JioSaavn Pro is the streaming service’s premium product.

The JioSaavn service will be offered on the ’freemium’ model to those users who have access to the ad-supported product. In addition to this, Reliance Jio users will gain seamless access to the integrated app.

In March 2018, RIL had acquired a majority stake in JioSaavn. The investors included Liberty Media, Tiger Global Management, Steadview Capital, Bertelsmann, and Ward Ferry Management, among others. RIL stated that JioSaavn would continue to build on Saavn’s artist development platform and groundbreaking original programming. The Co-Founders of Saavn, Paramdeep Singh, Rishi Malhotra, and Vinodh Bhat, continue in their leadership roles to boost the progress of the company. JioSaavn has a team of over 200 employees. They operate from five offices around the world in the cities of  New York, Mountain View, Mumbai, Gurugram, and Bengaluru.

Statement of Akash Ambani

Akash Ambani, the Director of Reliance Jio, stated that JioSaavn is a turning point for the Indian music streaming industry. India continues to experience rapid adoption of digital services, accelerated tech innovation, and a digital music industry at par with leaders around the globe. He stated that JioSaavn will be India’s largest streaming platform when powered by Reliance Jio’s widespread user base and advanced digital services infrastructure.

Statement of Rishi Malhotra

The Co-Founder and CEO of JioSaavn, Rishi Malhotra, stated that since March 2018, the Saavn and Reliance Jio teams have been collaborating to reimagine and integrate a combined platform. The result was JioSaavn. He stated that it is one of the world’s most capable and personalized media platforms with a regionalized editorial, unparalleled content catalog, and original programming. It also offers music, which redefines how creators and artists connect directly with worldwide audiences.

Summary: RIL launches JioSaavn, via its subsidiary Saavn Media Private Limited. It is South Asia’s largest entertainment, streaming, and artist platform and will be offered on a ’freemium’ model to Reliance Jio users.

Reliance Jio Announces Diwali Plan with 100% Cashback and Free Services for 1 Year

Reliance Jio, the telecom wing of the Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), has announced a Diwali plan worth INR 1,699, which has a validity period of one year. Under this plan, subscribers will not only receive free 4G services, 100 text messages per day, and unlimited phone calls but also 100 percent cashback. Additionally, under this plan, subscribers will receive 1.5 GB of data per day for a year. Subscribers can avail of this offer till November 30, 2018.

How to avail of the 100 percent cashback offer

Subscribers can avail of the 100 percent cashback offer through Reliance Digital coupons, which they can receive via the MyJio app. Subscribers can also find these coupons at any Reliance Digital store. To get the coupons, Reliance Jio users must make a purchase of INR 5,000 at the store. The coupons can also be used for mobile recharge. The cashback offer also gives subscribers a free subscription to MyJio.

The success of Reliance Jio

Reliance Jio has made a strong presence in the telecom sector of the country. It has performed well in terms of both profitability and revenue-per-user perspectives. As a result, the telecom company has seen a boost in its market share. Reliance Jio had a market share of 19.6 percent in July 2018. However, according to a report, the telecom company has been able to secure a market share of 20.8 percent in August 2018. As a result, it has become a market leader in this sector.

The popularity of the Reliance Jio network is attributable to its affordable pricing schemes and quality services provided to the Indian masses. The report also stated that the telecom company’s launch of the Reliance JioPhone, the 4-G enabled feature phone, has helped it add the maximum amount of subscribers at 12.2 million.

In terms of Average Revenue Per User (ARPU), Jio has also performed strongly. It has introduced a competitive environment to the telecom sector with accessible technologies. Reliance Jio has an ARPU of INR 135, which was the highest in the industry in the first quarter of 2018. In the second quarter of 2018, the telecom company reported a net income of INR 681 crore.

About Reliance Jio

Reliance Jio is the telecom division of RIL. It began operations in 2016. Today, Jio has amassed over 250 million subscribers across India. It consists of a digital ecosystem that allows citizens across the country to have a digital life. Therefore, Reliance Jio is customer-oriented. It provides smart devices, strong broadband networks, and useful applications. The telecom company has also made forays into the entertainment industry, education sector, and content carriage and distribution. This ensures that customers receive a very comprehensive range of services to choose from. Reliance Jio is dedicated to making India a technologically savvy nation.

Summary: Reliance Jio has announced a Diwali plan, which offers 100 percent cashback and free services for one year. The aim of this is to provide the Indian masses with accessible and quality 4G services.

Mukesh Ambani’s Vision for India’s Digital Revolution

Mukesh Ambani, the Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), stated that by 2020 all mobile phones in India would be connected via the 4G network. During the inaugural session of the India Mobile Congress 2018, he also stated that India would soon be one of the “top three nations in fixed broadband”. He further stated that India would be among the first countries to adopt ultrafast 5G services.

Mukesh Ambani’s statement

Mukesh Ambani stated that by 2020, every Indian citizen would have access to 4G connectivity. India has risen from its 155th position in mobile broadband penetration. Currently, it is the number one country in the world in mobile data consumption. India has achieved this feat in less than two years. Ambani stated that this is the fastest transition globally from 2G and 3G to 4G.

Ambani also stated that India has the 135^th position in fixed broadband. However, it will rise from this rank at a pace that “would surprise” the world.

According to Mukesh Ambani, the “digital connectivity revolution” will transform the rural parts of the country. In the past eight months, approximately 50 million villagers have received affordable smartphones. He also stated that Reliance Jio’s JioGigaFiber service would offer complete “fixed-mobile convergence”. This means that users will be able to move seamlessly between both networks. Therefore, Reliance Jio’s objective is to offer Wi-Fi when indoors and 4G and 5G coverage while on the go. Ambani stated that he is excited for India’s digital revolution to transform villages, especially in areas like rural enterprises and agriculture. This will empower marginalized communities and women in particular.

Ambani called on businesses and enterprises to adopt “an India First vision” to help make the country one of the world’s largest digital markets. With this, India would lead the “Fourth Industrial Revolution”.

The growth of Reliance Jio

Reliance Jio, the telecom wing of RIL, began operations in 2016. Currently, it has more than 250 million subscribers. The company has more than 50 percent market share and is India’s largest mobile broadband company. To facilitate its entry into the home broadband space with the Reliance JioGigaFiber fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) service it recently acquired majority stakes in Hathway Cable and DEN Networks.

Mukesh Ambani stated that Reliance Jio is committed to building a network of deep-fiber across India to enable connectivity between every premise with high-quality network services.

The digital future of India

Mukesh Ambani stated that India’s digital future envisions 1.3 billion connected Indians. This future will be built on the pillars of data, computing, and connectivity. Additionally, according to Ambani, the future will be created and powered by a range of path-breaking digital technologies such as blockchain, robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality, Internet of Things (IoT), and augmented reality.

Summary: Mukesh Ambani has stated that every Indian will have access to a 4G-enabled mobile phone by 2020. He also stated that India will be one of the top three countries in fixed broadband and will adopt 5G services before other countries.

RIL Collaborates with Vardhman Textiles to Produce R|Elan Fabrics

The Mukesh Ambani -led Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) has collaborated with Vardhman Textiles to produce the innovative fabric R|Elan, which includes R|Elan GreenGold. R|Elan GreenGold is manufactured by recycling used plastic PET bottles. It is very eco-friendly and has one of the lowest carbon footprints globally.

RIL’s press release

According to a press release by RIL, R|Elan is a high-quality fabric collection that will range across the sustainable and performance themes in casuals, formals, and other women-wear segments. RIL stated that the R|Elan technical team will provide the parameters, specifications, and technical expertise to ensure the best quality fabric is produced.

RIL further stated that as part of this new collaboration, its R|Elan technical team aims to work closely with Vardhman Textiles to develop a range of new manufacturing processes to create specially engineered R|Elan fabrics.

R|Elan range of fabrics

There are five innovative fabrics under the umbrella of R|Elan. R|Elan FreeFlow is used in manufacturing dress material and sarees. R|Elan Kooltex is used to make activewear apparels. R|Elan SuperSoft is used to manufacture shirts. R|Elan SuperBlack is used to manufacture suits. Finally, R|Elan GreenGold is the flagship fabric and manufactured by recycling used PET bottles. It is the greenest fabric in the world. It will be used in trousers and denim.

R|Elan GreenGold is manufactured using bio-fuels instead of fossil fuels. According to RIL’s website, the process also uses a zero-waste concept. This means that all the raw materials are used in the manufacturing process or sold in the market. The process also recycles the maximum amount of water and all the water is utilized in horticulture and manufacturing.

The opinion of Gunjan Sharma, CMO, RIL

Gunjan Sharma, the Chief Marketing Officer of the Polyester Division at RIL, stated that Reliance Industries is proud to be associated with Vardhman Textiles, a leading player, for R|Elan. The two entities will work together to ensure that the customers’ rising demands for sustainable and high-quality performance apparel are met with R|Elan. Sharma further stated that this collaboration is also an effort to create opportunities for the entire textile value chain, including apparel manufacturers and brands.

The significance of R|Elan in the apparel industry

For RIL, R|Elan is a portfolio of innovative fabrics. It will have a presence in various segments such as denim, activewear, ethnic, and western wear, both casuals and formals. RIL has collaborated with over 30 players who are equipped to produce new-age fabrics using the technologies of R|Elan.

In the total INR 2-2.5 lakh crore apparel industry, sarees and ethnic wear, the biggest apparel sub-segment, has an INR 60,000 crore share.  The activewear segment commands only an INR 2,500 crore-market share, which is 10-15 percent. The denim segment is valued at INR 20,000 crore.

Summary: RIL has collaborated with Vardhman Textiles to produce the innovative fabric, including R|Elan GreenGold, which is eco-friendly and made from PET bottles. These R|Elan fabrics are a significant portfolio for RIL in the apparel industry.

Reliance Jio and SBI to Widen Their Digital Partnership

Reliance Jio, the telecom division of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), and the State Bank of India (SBI) have recently agreed to broaden the scope of their existing digital partnership. This involves a strong focus on the accessibility of online banking services and better loyalty programmes. The customers of SBI, Reliance Jio, and Jio Payments Bank will reap the benefits of this widened joint venture.

Existing partnership between Reliance Jio and SBI

In April 2018, RIL and SBI entered into a joint venture of 70:30, to develop the Jio Payments Bank. After the success of this app, the commercial bank and the telecom company have decided to broaden their partnership.

Details of the extended partnership

Under this new agreement, Reliance Jio plans to integrate SBI YONO into the MyJio mobile application. SBI YONO is a digital platform that offers digital banking, commerce, and financial services, all in one place. Once the integration is complete, customers of the bank can access these features through the MyJio app.

With regards to the customer loyalty programme, SBI and Jio customers will benefit from Jio Prime. Jio Prime will soon offer exclusive deals from Reliance Retail, Jio, and other partner brands and merchants. Under the extended partnership, Jio Prime will also be integrated with SBI Rewardz, which is SBI’s loyalty programme. This will offer SBI customers opportunities to earn additional loyalty rewards and also wider redemption within Reliance, Jio, and more online and physical partner platforms.

Additionally, a joint statement between the bank and the telecom company stated that Reliance Jio will be SBI’s preferred partner for the bank’s design, network, and connectivity needs. With the help of Jio’s broad network in rural and urban areas, SBI plans to facilitate video-banking and other on-demand services.

Comments from both sides of the partnership

While commenting on the extended digital agreement, SBI Chairman Rajnish Kumar stated that the partnership is mutually beneficial for both parties. He stated that a digital bank like SBI is very pleased to partner up with Reliance Jio, which is a popular and successful network provider. Kumar further stated that the co-operation of both sides is expected to enhance the digital foot-print for the customers of SBI. This will be achieved by offering the best and most rewarding customer experiences possible.

When commenting on the extended partnership deal, Mukesh Ambani, the Chairman and Managing Director of RIL, stated that Reliance Jio intends to bolster SBI’s customer base, which is unmatched around the world. To make this possible, Jio will commit its network and platforms. Reliance Retail will also commit its ecosystem. This combination will aim to help SBI and Reliance Jio customers to adopt digital services to meet their consumer needs.

Summary

Reliance Jio and SBI have entered into an agreement to broaden the scope of their digital partnership. This involves a focus on online banking services and loyalty programmes to enhance customer experience and help accelerate the growth of the Indian digital atmosphere

Reliance Jio Launches INR 594 Plan for Jio Subscribers

Reliance Jio, the telecom division of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), has introduced a special recharge plan for its customers as part of the JioPhone Monsoon Hungama offer. Under this new plan, which is valid for a period of six months, Jio subscribers can avail of unlimited calling and free 4G data. This is in addition to the two recharge plans already available under the Monsoon Hungama offer. After this introduction, Jio plans to launch JioPhone 2 next.

About the Monsoon Hungama offer

Under this offer, Reliance Jio is offering customers the JioPhone feature-phone, a 4G-enabled device. Customers can avail of this offer in exchange of their old feature phone, along with the payment of INR 501. This amount represents a refundable deposit that the customer can claim at the end of a three year period.

Once the customer has purchased the JioPhone they will need to subscribe to any one of Jio’s tariff plans. There are two of them. The first plan, which is priced at INR 49, offers 1GB of 4G data and unlimited calling. The second plan, priced at INR153, offers subscribers 1.5 GB of 4G data, 100 SMS per day, and unlimited calling. Both these plans have a validity period of 28 days and offer all the 4G services available on Reliance Jio’s network.

About Reliance Jio’s new INR 594 plan

To offers its customers a better 4G experience, Reliance Jio has launched a new tariff plan priced at INR 594, which is valid for a period of six months and offers unlimited calling and free 4G data. This new plan is the third tariff plan Jio has introduced under its Monsoon Hungama offer. With this, Jio aims to improve the quality and affordability of 4G services provided to its subscribers across India.

About the JioPhone 2

In an effort to enhance customer experience and satisfaction, Reliance Jio has planned to launch JioPhone 2, also a 4G-enabled feature-phone, at a price of INR 2,999. This will sport a QWERTY keypad, dual-sim capability, a 2000mAh battery, and a 2.4-inch QVGA display. Other specifications include a 4GB RAM that is expandable up to 128GB via a card slot, a VGA front-facing camera, and 2MP rear camera.

On the software front, the JioPhone 2 sports a KAI operating system and supports LTE Bands 3, 5, 40 as well as 2GB Band- 900/1800. Customers will enjoy a 150 Mbps download speed and a 50 Mbps upload speed as well. The feature phone also supports Voice-over-LTE and Voice over Wifi. Furthermore, it will also sport popular apps like Youtube, WhatsApp, and Facebook, among others.

With regard to connectivity, JioPhone 2 also comes with Global Positioning System (GPS), Bluetooth, Near-field Communication (NFC), and Frequency Modulation (FM).

The JioPhone 2 will be available to the country starting August 15, 2018, in celebration of Independence Day.

Summary

Reliance Jio has introduced a third tariff plan under its Monsoon Hungama offer. This is priced at INR 594 and is valid for six months. It is launched in an effort to make 4G technologies more enjoyable and affordable to Indian users.

RIL’s Contribution to the Digital World

In 2003, the Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), Mukesh Ambani began his digital journey with a plan in mind: to introduce and offer new and accessible technologies to the people of India. Over the next 15 years, by reinventing and expanding his business ventures, he delivered on his promises. With a ‘customer first’ approach, RIL has made a strong presence among the masses. Now in 2018, Ambani is reinventing his original vision of making India a technologically savvy nation.

 Progress in digital business, and media and entertainment

By formulating his plans in such a way that his digital dreams found opportunities for growth, Mukesh Ambani has expanded Reliance Jio, his telecom business by collaborating with noted companies such as Saavn, Eros Entertainment, and ALT Balaji, Balaji Telefilms’ content streaming application, among others.

RIL, a multifaceted business organization

As it stands today, RIL is a multi-faceted consumer business that offers services in retail, content, health, education, e-commerce, cloud technology, artificial intelligence, and media and entertainment.

The range of achievements and the way ahead

The fast-paced evolution of the technological world demands that companies focus on customer relations to stay relevant. Because customer satisfaction is a priority in any business, RIL has made investments in advertising, marketing, customer service, research, and retail experience. RIL believes in providing quality services to customers across all sectors.

In terms of expanding and improving carriage and content, special financial resources have assigned to rise up against the challenges posed by international and domestic competitors. During the 41^st Annual General Meeting (AGM), which took place on July 5, 2018, the company stated that it is preparing to roll out new online services in a growing list of sectors like media, entertainment, security, governance, banking, and health, to name a few.

Internet-based systems will also be receiving an anticipated upgrade within 18 to 24 months. As the connectivity between network and devices keeps increasing, so will the number of software systems. Larger bandwidths, 5G technology, artificial intelligence, cinematic VR, and automation and robotics in civic services will integrate and interconnect society, making mundane tasks redundant and provide a seamless interface between end user and product.

The progress of Reliance Jio

Launched in 2016, after two and a half years of operations, Reliance Jio has acquired 200 million plus wireless customers by offering high-speed internet connection and an engaging digital ecosystem. It offers a variety of post-paid and pre-paid data plans to meet the changing needs of the Indian mobile phone users.

The assured future

RIL still has a role to play in the coming years. With technology at its center point, it has introduced plans to engage customers in an effective manner. For years, research into wearable tech, smart home appliances, immersive content, ‘predictive home’, and holography has already been underway.

Summary

RIL has made its presence felt fields of digital media, content distribution, and technologies that have not been introduced in other developing countries across the globe.

RIL Enters the Indian Broadband Services Market with Jio GigaFiber

At the 41^st Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance Industries Limited(RIL), which took place on Thursday, July 5, 2018, the organization had announced the launch of the Jio GigaFiber, its broadband service, which would come under Reliance Jio, the organization’s telecom subsidiary. After having acquired 215 million subscribers since its commencement of business operations in 2016, Reliance Jio has ventured into the fixed broadband sector homes and enterprises with Jio GigaFiber.

Jio GigaFiber – Launch details

Mukesh Ambani, the Chairman and Managing Director of RIL, had announced the launch of Jio GigaFiber at the recently held 41^st AGM of the company. While addressing a house filled with shareholders and media professionals, Ambani stated that the purpose of launching this service is to give customers the facility of fixed broadband connectivity through the support of fiber connectivity. He also added that Reliance Jio would provide fiber connectivity to homes and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). In addition, the rollout of this broadband service would happen in 1,100 cities and customers who are interested in registering for Jio GigaFiber can register from August 15, 2018. The locations, from where the highest registrations are received, would be prioritized first, for a rollout.

Brief insights of Jio GigaFiber

Akash Ambani, the Director of Reliance Jio, had made a brief explanation of the Jio GigaFiber at the 41^st AGM of RIL. He stated that through the router, customers would get wi-fi coverage at a good speed. Moreover, he added that along with JioGigaFiber, customers would also get a set-top box and a voice-activated remote, which would have the facility of various Indian languages.

Mukesh Ambani’s vision with Jio GigaFiber

Mukesh Ambani stated that nations, which have a more developed communication infrastructure, more than 80 percent of the data consumption takes place indoors with the help of a fixed-line connectivity in offices, homes, and other premises. He stated that with Jio GigiFiber, Reliance Jio is determined to take India in the list of top five countries for fiber-based wireline connectivity as well as mobility. He stated that, for the same purpose, Reliance Jio has been running beta trials in thousands of homes. He added that once the infrastructure is organized and the rollout takes place, Jio GigaFiber has the potential to integrate various digital services such as broadband, e-commerce, and cable TV, among others. He concluded that Jio GigaFiber could be a holistic digital platform for the customers.

Other announcements during the 41^st AGM

The other key announcements, which took place during the 41^st AGM, included the launch of Jio Phone 2, which comes with a full keyboard and the feature of a horizontal screen. The introductory price of Jio Phone 2 is INR 2,999. Apart from the launch of Jio Phone 2, Mukesh Ambani also introduced an offer wherein customers could exchange their feature phone for JioPhones at a price of INR 501 from July 21, 2018. This indicated that the entry price of JioPhone has been reduced from INR 1,500 to INR 501.

Summary

RIL enters the broadband services market with Jio GigaFiber, which was announced during the company’s annual general meeting on Thursday, July 5, 2018.