Jio, branded as Reliance Jio, is an Indian telecommunications network operated by Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited, a subsidiary of Jio Platforms Limited under Reliance Industries Limited. Headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra, it provides mobile telephony, wireless broadband, and digital services across India. Jio launched its commercial 4G LTE services in September 2016 and is widely credited with accelerating mass adoption of mobile internet in India through aggressive pricing on data and voice.
| Name | Jio (Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited) |
|---|---|
| Type | Telecommunications operator |
| Industry | Telecom, digital services |
| Headquarters | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Parent | Jio Platforms Limited / Reliance Industries Limited |
| Commercial launch | 5 September 2016 |
| Founder/Chairman | Mukesh Ambani |
| Area served | India (all 22 telecom circles) |
| Network technology | 4G LTE, VoLTE, 5G SA |
Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited was incorporated in 2007 as Infotel Broadband Services Limited. In 2010, Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), led by chairman Mukesh Ambani, acquired the company after it won pan-India broadband wireless access (BWA) spectrum in the auction conducted by the Department of Telecommunications. The entity was subsequently renamed Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited and re-positioned as RIL's flagship telecom and digital services arm.
Jio's strategy was based on an all-IP, data-first network using LTE and Voice over LTE (VoLTE), avoiding legacy 2G and 3G technologies. The rollout was supported by a nationwide optical fibre backbone and a tower-sharing arrangement with Reliance Infratel and later other infrastructure providers.
Jio's entry significantly altered the competitive structure of the Indian telecom market. Its low tariffs for mobile data triggered a wave of consolidation, with operators such as Aircel exiting the market and Vodafone India merging with Idea Cellular to form Vodafone Idea. The resulting drop in data prices accelerated growth in video streaming, digital payments through systems such as the Unified Payments Interface, and online services in tier-2 and tier-3 markets. Jio is among the largest mobile operators in the world by subscriber base.
Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited operates as the licensed telecom service provider, while Jio Platforms Limited houses the broader digital ecosystem, including applications, technology platforms, and strategic investments. Both are subsidiaries of Reliance Industries Limited. Akash Ambani serves as chairman of Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited.