Reliance Jio's JioAirFiber Leads Global FWA Growth, Paving Way for AI Integration in India's Digital Landscape

Jio Reports Fastest FWA Growth Globally with Over 2.8 Million AirFiber Connections

Total subscriber base reaches 479 million, with 148 million upgrading to 5G. RIL announced that its telecom unit, Jio Platforms Limited, which includes Jio's digital services, reported a quarterly profit of Rs 6,536 million, backed by an Average Revenue per User (ARPU) of Rs 195.1 for the quarter ended September 30, 2024. The company said that the full impact of the tariff hike would materialise over the next 2-3 quarters. Overall, the company reported a total subscriber base of around 479 million as of September 2024, with 148 million subscribers upgrading to 5G, contributing to around 34 percent of wireless data traffic. Additionally, Jio claimed to be the fastest-growing fixed wireless operator globally, with over 2.8 million JioAirFiber connections. The company noted that per capita data consumption increased to 31GB per month, driven by a higher mix of 5G and home users. "Our performance reflects robust growth in Digital Services and Upstream business. This helped partially offset weak contribution from O2C business which was impacted by unfavourable global demand-supply dynamics," said chairman and managing director Mukesh Ambani. "Growth in Digital Services was led by increased ARPU and improving customer engagement metrics reflecting the strong value proposition of our services. The home broadband segment is witnessing accelerated momentum on the back of our unique industry-leading JioAirFiber offering. Jio's broad spectrum of offerings enables it to digitally empower every village, town and city in India as well as the country's small and medium-scale enterprises. The digital services business continues to focus on innovative deep-tech solutions on a national scale and is on track to deliver the path-breaking benefits of Artificial Intelligence to all Indians," Ambani added. The company also noted that a limited amount of SIM consolidation was observed following the recent tariff hike. "Jio has transformed India from 5G-dark to 5G-bright through unmatched spectrum holdings, 5G Standalone Architecture, and advanced technologies like Carrier Aggregation and Network Slicing," the company said. Regarding JioAirFiber, RIL said, "Jio's pace of home connections is the fastest of its kind globally. Scaling up distribution, continuous optimisation of the onboarding process, and a technological edge would enable Jio to achieve the target of connecting 100 million homes in India at record speed." Akash M Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Jio Infocomm, remarked, "Right from inception, Jio has focused on deep tech innovation to create value for customers and shareholders. The ongoing transformation brought about by Jio True5G and JioAirFiber in India's digital landscape is a testament to this approach. AI is creating the next avenue for this transformation, and Jio is committed to developing the world's best AI ecosystem in India for all Indians." In the Media segment, RIL reported that JioCinema crossed 16 million paid subscribers, continuing to be the fastest-growing subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) OTT platform in the country. "JioCinema's recently launched SVOD plans have gained strong traction, helping it become the fastest-growing subscription-based OTT platform in the country," RIL said. "International content catalogue on JioCinema was amongst the top drivers of subscriber acquisition during the quarter. Affordable monthly subscription plans of Rs 29/month and Rs 89/month (family plan) helped increase the sampling for behind-the-paywall content," the company added.

JioAirFiber connects 2.8 mn homes, paves the way for 100 mn goal as Reliance Jio reports record gains

Reliance Jio Infocomm has connected approximately 2.8 million homes through JioAirFiber as of September 24, significantly boosting its home broadband segment. The company's consolidated net profit rose by 23.4% to Rs 6,539 crore in the September quarter, with revenue from operations reaching Rs 31,709 crore. Mukesh Ambani credits the growth to JioAirFiber's success and increased digital service revenues, highlighting a resilient business portfolio amid challenges in other sectors.JioAirFiber is revolutionizing home connectivity in India, having connected around 2.8 million homes as of September 24. Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Jio, stated, "The home broadband segment is witnessing accelerated momentum on the back of our unique industry-leading JioAirFiber offering." This rapid uptake positions Jio at the forefront of the global home connectivity market. The company aims to connect 100 million homes in India, leveraging a robust distribution strategy, continuous onboarding optimization, and technological advancements. At Reliance Industries Limited's 47th Annual General Meeting (AGM), the company unveiled JioBrain, a comprehensive suite of tools and platforms designed to span the entire artificial intelligence (AI) lifecycle. JioBrain aims to help Reliance Industries embed AI into various processes and offerings, facilitating end-to-end workflows enriched with real-time, data-driven insights and automation. This initiative is part of Jio's broader strategy to enhance service delivery for both internal and external customers. Akash M Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Jio Infocomm, emphasized Jio's commitment to deep tech innovation, stating, "Right from inception, Jio has focused on deep tech innovation to create customer and shareholder value. The ongoing transformation created by Jio True5G and JioAirFiber in India's digital landscape is a testament to this approach." He highlighted that AI is pivotal for further transformation, with Jio committed to developing the world's best AI ecosystem in India for all Indians. Ambani also noted that Jio is dedicated to delivering robust shareholder returns, showcasing strong financial performance in the current quarter. Reliance Jio Infocomm reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 6,539 crore for the September quarter, marking a 23.4% increase from Rs 5,299 crore reported in the same period last year. Revenue from operations climbed to Rs 31,709 crore, reflecting an 18% increase over Rs 26,875 crore from the previous financial year. Furthermore, the average revenue per user (ARPU) saw a 7.4% year-on-year rise, reaching Rs 195.1. The company's customer base grew to 478.8 million, an increase of 4.2% year-on-year. Jio continues to assert its dominance in the 5G sector, achieving 148 million subscribers on True5G within less than two years of its launch. Jio has transformed India from being "5G-dark to 5G-bright," leveraging unmatched spectrum holdings and advanced technologies such as 5G Standalone Architecture, Carrier Aggregation, and Network Slicing. Ambani commented on the company's strong financial results, stating, "Our performance reflects robust growth in Digital Services and upstream business." He noted that this growth has helped offset weaker contributions from the O2C (Oil to Chemical) business, which faced challenges due to unfavorable global demand-supply dynamics. He emphasized that the rise in digital services was driven by higher ARPU and improved customer engagement metrics, demonstrating the strong value proposition of Jio's offerings. The company anticipates that the full impact of recent tariff hikes will become evident in the next two to three quarters, potentially enhancing revenue further as Jio continues to optimize its service offerings and expand its digital business. With JioAirFiber leading the charge in home connectivity, Reliance Jio is well-positioned for sustained growth in the competitive telecom landscape.