Jio is born, will it birth a telecom revolution?

Via The Economic Times | Jun 15, 2015

Reliance Jio Infocomm, owned by billionaire Mukesh Ambani, will make its long-aw
aited commercial launch of highspeed broadband services in December, more than f
ive years after re-entering the telecom sector. The move could dramatically alte
r the industry landscape in the world's fastest-growing major economy, experts s
aid. Ambani unveiled details of Jio's fourth-generation (4G) services on Friday
at the 41st annual general meeting of parent Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL). The
company will offer data and voice services at half or less than half the current
rates. The offerings will include instant messaging, live TV, movies on demand,
news, streaming music and a digital payments platform, said the RIL chairman. "
I am confident that Jio will play a significant role in lifting India from its c
urrent 142nd rank on Internet penetration to among the top 10 nations in the wor
ld," Ambani said. "Digital currency, digital commerce, digital education, digita
l healthcare, egovernance, M2M and the Internet of Things, smart cities ...I won
't be exaggerating if I say that each of these areas is ripe for hundreds of tho
usands of entrepreneurial ventures."
Jio, wholly owned by RIL, has already launched instant messaging application Jio
Chat and will launch apps in education and healthcare sectors. It will also off
er MiFi (mobile WiFi) hotspot devices, traditional WiFi devices and set-top boxe
s. The company has also applied for permits to enter the broadcast distribution
business. This is "one of the largest transformational green-field digital initi
atives anywhere in the world," Ambani told shareholders. "Jio's broadband assets
will be the bedrock for Digital India," he said, referring to Prime Minister Na
rendra Modi's push to bring government services fully online. "This is a key the
me for transforming our nation and creating opportunities for all citizens by ha
rnessing digital technologies," Ambani said. Over the next few months, Jio will
start an extensive beta launch, which will be upgraded to commercial operations
by the year-end. The fiscal year starting April 2016 will be the first full year
of commercial operations for Jio, which expects to achieve 100 percent coverage
over the next three years, Ambani said. Jio is now present in all states, with
a direct physical presence in nearly 18,000 cities and towns.