Jio to play key role in development of 5G ecosystem in India: RIL

NEW DELHI: Reliance Industries said in its latest annual report that Reliance Jio would play an important role in the development of the 5G ecosystem in India based on market dynamics.

On the issue of the minimum price for mobile services, the company indicated that market dynamics have improved in the recent past as reflected by the tariff hikes in December by operators.

It said that the government has also expressed its intention to hold the next round of spectrum auctions during the fiscal year 2020-21.

"With its 5G-ready network and extensive fiber assets, Jio will play an important role in the development of the 5G ecosystem in India, depending on market dynamics," the annual report stated.

In his letter  to shareholders, Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani said there are still millions of 2G phone users who cannot use the Internet, highlighting the urgent need for India to fully transition from 2G to the 4G era and beyond, and underlining the opportunity that Jio has in such transformation

"In the past two years, JioPhone has successfully transitioned nearly 100 feature phone (2G) phone users to 4G," he said.

Mukesh Ambani noted that Jio's success in building technology specifically for India and its ability to spread across the country has attracted world technology leaders, Facebook and Microsoft,  to forge partnerships with it.

Ambani said Reliance Jio continues to add subscribers at an unprecedented rate in the world of telecommunications with 387.5 million mobile phone subscribers (as of March 31, 2020).

Described Jio as a major catalyst in creating the broadband data market in India, saying he is now the number one mobile operator in the country by both adjusted gross revenue (AGR) and subscribers.

Reliance Jio said it offers its state-of-the-art wireline services across homes and enterprises, adding that all of this will help place a strong foundation for providing platform-based digital services.

According to the report, Jio connected nearly one million homes with JioFiber services until March 2020.

Ambani said the launch of the digital commerce initiative will open more growth opportunities for organized retail business and leveraging the strength of consumer and digital platforms.