Reliance Jio GigaFiber with GigaTV may cost Rs 500 a month; launch in Nov

Pre-registrations for the Reliance Jio GigaFiber service would begin from August 15 on Jio.com and My Jio app. However, the service is not expected to launch before the last quarter of this month

Reliance Jio, the telecommunication service provider promoted by Mukesh Ambani, is gearing up to foray into the home broadband segment with the launch of Jio GigaFiber fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) internet service, which was announced at Reliance Industries' 41st Annual General Meeting. The pre-registrations for the service would begin from August 15 on Jio 4G LTE Network and My Jio app. However, the service is not expected to launch before the last quarter of this month.

At the RIL AGM, Ambani had announced that the Reliance Jio GigaFiber had already been under testing in several cities and it would launch simultaneously in around 1,100 cities for homes, small and medium businesses and big corporate houses. He had also announced that the pre-registration for Jio GigaFiber home broadband would open from August 15, and a location that receives most users’ interest would be among the first locations to get the service.

With the Reliance Jio GigaFiber service, the company is promising internet speed of up to 1Gbps. However, the company did not share some information like the preliminary connection cost, security deposit and details of monthly plans. But a recent news report in the Economic Times hints that the company would focus on volumes to drive demand. Therefore, it would offer broadband services bundled with DTH services at about Rs 500 a month, or effectively half the price of what other cable operators charge for similar services.

ALSO READ: Reliance Jio Phone 2, Jio GigaFiber pre-bookings start on Aug 15: Know more

As for add-on features of the Jio GigaFiber, unlike most other broadband services, this would not be limited only to internet connection. The FTTH internet service would act as an underlying technology that would allow the company to foray into home automation, home surveillance, landline and cable television services. However, in the beginning, the broadband connection would have only internet services and Jio GigaTV service, which was also announced during the RIL AGM 2018.

The GigaTV set-top-box would offer internet-based digital content services, along with access to Jio’s app suite. Interestingly, the set-top-box would also support a video calling feature, allowing users to make video calls from their televisions. It is to be seen how the feature would work as the televisions currently do not support camera, in-build or external. The GigaTV remote would be voice-enabled, which would make it work with voice commands – something similar to how Amazon’s Fire Stick remote works.

Reliance Jio Phone 2, Jio GigaFibre pre-bookings start on Aug 15: Know more

Jio Phone 2 and Jio GigaFibre home broadband services were announced at the Reliance Industries 41st Annual General Meeting, which was held in Mumbai on July 5

Reliance Jio Infocomm, a Mukesh Ambani-owned telecommunication operator, announced the Jio Phone 2 and Jio GigaFibre home broadband services at the Reliance Industries 41st Annual General Meeting, which was held in Mumbai on July 5. While Reliance Jio confirmed the price of the Jio Phone 2, it did not reveal the GigaFibre connection cost or plans detail. However, the company announced that the pre-registrations for both the feature phone and broadband connections would start on http://Jio.com and Jio mobile app from August 15.

Here are things to know about the JioPhone 2 and Jio GigaFibre home broadband service:

Jio GigaFibre

The Reliance Jio GigaFibre is a fixed-line broadband service, which would be launched in 1,100 cities simultaneously for homes, merchants and small and medium enterprises and large enterprises. According to the company’s claim, the Jio GigaFibre would offer internet speed of up to one gigabyte per second (Gbps). The company did not announce the launch date or plans, but interested users can register their interest for Jio GigaFibre services on Jio web portal starting August 15. The locality that shows major interest would be among the first locations to get Jio’s home broadband services, according to Mukesh

Unlike most other broadband services, the Jio GigaFibre would not only be limited to internet connection. The fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) internet service would act as an underlying technology that would allow the company to foray into home automation, home surveillance, landline and cable television services. However, in the beginning, the broadband connection would be limited to internet services and Jio GigaTV service, which was also announced during the RIL AGM 2018.

ALSO READ: News digest: Jio's fibre-to-home foray, new tax rules, PSB mergers and more

Jio GigaTV

Jio’s digital television content services is a part of GigaFibre internet services.

The GigaTV set-top-box would offer internet-based digital content services, along with access to Jio’s app suite. Interestingly, the set-top-box would also support a video calling feature, which would allow users to make video calls from their televisions. It is to be seen how the feature would work as the televisions currently does not support camera, in-build or external. The GigaTV remote would be voice-enabled, which would make it work with voice commands – something similar to how the Amazon’s Fire Stick remote works.

RJio Monsoon Hungama: JioPhone at Rs 594 with free data, calls for 6 months

While the company is offering effectively free JioPhone at a refundable security deposit of Rs 501, the feature phone comes bundled with six months unlimited free data and voice at Rs 594

Reliance Jio, a Mukesh Ambani-owned telecommunication service provider, is gearing up to launch the second iteration of its 4G VoLTE-enabled feature phone – the JioPhone 2 – on August 15. However, before rolling out the new device, the company has announced ‘JioPhone Monsoon Hungama’ offer in which the company is offering an effectively free JioPhone, in exchange of any other feature phone, at a refundable security deposit of Rs 501; Rs 999 less than the original security deposit of Rs 1,500.

RJio Monsoon Hungama offer details

With the Jio Monsoon Hungama offer, the company also announced a Rs 99 exclusive recharge plan for JioPhone users that comes bundled with the JioPhone. While the company is offering JioPhone at a security deposit of Rs 501, the feature phone comes bundled with six months unlimited free data and voice at Rs 594 (Rs 99 x 6). This means, customers will need to shell out Rs 1,095 (Rs 501 refundable security + Rs 594 recharge) upfront to get the JioPhone bundled with six months of unlimited calls and data in exchange of their old feature phone.

ALSO READ: From today, Reliance Jio's 'Monsoon Hungama' to offer JioPhone at Rs 501

Eligible devices for exchange

Any mobile phone purchased after January 1, 2015 in working condition without any missing part or damage, broken and burnt area is eligible for exchange with Reliance JioPhone.

However, JioPhone or any CDMA or operator locked phones are not eligible and will not be accepted for exchange, according to Reliance Jio.

For exchange only the phone, along with battery and charger, is required and other accessories such as headphones, box, screen guard, etc. are not required. Users can also check if their device is eligible for exchange at Jio.com.

Existing Jio SIM users or other users on other operators

The JioPhone is a SIM-locked feature phone that works only on Jio 4G VoLTE network. Therefore, even the existing Jio network subscribers would require a new connection to operate the JioPhone. For subscribers on other networks, if they wish to retain their number, they can port their number using mobile number portability option to Jio network to use it with JioPhone.

JioPhone 2

In the 41st Annual General Meeting of Reliance Industries, Mukesh Ambani announced the JioPhone 2, which is an upgraded version of the JioPhone, with horizontal screen and BlackBerry-inspired physical QWERTY keyboard. The phone will be available starting August 15 at an introductory price of Rs 2,999.

RCom: Will the monetisation plan work?

RCom has also talked about monetising its real estate but that is easier said than done

Anil-Ambani led Reliance Communications' offer to lenders to take control of the company by converting Rs 7,100 crore of its debt into a 51 per cent equity stake is perhaps the telecom major's best bet. If the latest rescue attempt goes through, lenders led by SBI will hold at least 51 per cent in the telco and promoters stake will be halved to around 26 per cent.

RCom has said it will get about Rs 17,000 crore by monetising its assets. The plan includes selling its tower business, fibre network, and media convergence nodes and it will estimates another Rs 10,000 crore through real estate sales in eight cities. Post debt monetisation, the company said it would have only Rs 6,000 crore of debt left. Moreover, another Rs 4,000 crore taken from unsecured creditors like Ericsson needs to be negotiated with.

So how prudent is this monetisation plan?*

Under its earlier plan, RCom had said it would cut its debt by half by December through a merger with Aircel and sale of majority stake in its tower business to Canada-based investment firm Brookfield Infrastructure for Rs 11,000 crore, valuing the business at Rs 20,000 crore. However, now that the Aircel deal is off and RCom shutting down its 2G business, which constitutes for a bulk of its subscribers, the deal valuation is likely to be revised downwards. In essence, the telecom tower deal is subject to a new valuation given that Aircel’s tenancies will not be included in the deal anymore. Moreover, RCom now runs the risk of losing at least half of its 2G subscribers.

Also Read : New Year disruption plan: Now, Reliance Jio moves to broadband, TV space

Analysts say that even if RCom sells the entire 100 per cent stake in its 43,600 tower assets to Brookfield it will not fetch them more than Rs 8,000 crore.

RCom is hoping that it will be able to rake in Rs 14,000 crore from its spectrum sale though the value of the spectrum is Rs 26,000 crore, which includes spectrum it got from the merger of MTS. However, analysts are of the view that there is already a huge oversupply of spectrum, and that the paper price might not be reflected in reality. RCom may also not find many takers for its spectrum given how things went down with Telenor and TTSL which gave their spectrum virtually free to Bharti Airtel. (more)

Rs 2500 JioPhone @ just Rs 1500! How RIL is planning to recover losses

Jio has amassed more than 128 million subscribers since its launch last year

Reliance Industries' telecom upstart Jio is footing at least 40 percent of the cost of its basic 4G phone, two sources familiar with the matter said, as it bets on recovering the investment by luring in millions of new customers.

The Jio Phone, rolling out this week for a refundable deposit of 1,500 rupees ($23.05), will cost at least 2,500 rupees ($39) to assemble, the sources told Reuters.

That means Jio will likely carry more than $150 million in costs for every 10 million JioPhones it sells.

And the company aims to build a subscriber base of between 250 million and 300 million users in the next two years, said one of the sources.

Reliance Industries did not respond to a request for comment.

Some Reliance investors may flinch at the cost of subsidies, but the scale of the outlay is a clear signal of the level of Jio's ambition, as it targets an audience of some 500 million who still cannot afford smartphones in India.

Also Read : Nokia 8 with dual rear camera launched in India at Rs 36,999

Jio's advanced voice over LTE (VoLTE) network only works with 4G enabled devices, inaccessible to many even at subsidised rates. The significantly cheaper JioPhone, however, will open the Internet to a less affluent segment of Indians for the very first time.

"The 3,000-rupee smartphone was not cutting it," the second source said. "Reliance is making a bold attempt with this phone and data will be the key driver for them."

Analysts estimate a majority of Indian feature phone users have an average revenue per user (ARPU) of rupees 50 or lower. JioPhone's 153 rupees monthly plan for so-called pre-paid users aims to drive up this ARPU, the first source said.

Jio, backed by India's richest man Mukesh Ambani, has amassed more than 128 million subscribers since its launch last year, by offering free voice and cut-price data for months.(more)

Focus on problems, not money: Ambani's 5 tips for budding entrepreneurs

If you focus on financial results the chances are you wouldn''t become great, he said

Counselling a five-point tip-sheet for budding entrepreneurs and potential start-up founders, Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani on Wednesday said it is essential to find a passion for solving a problem without focusing primarily on financial returns.

"First, you have to figure out what you want to do. As an entrepreneur, it is important to find a passion, a problem to solve, it is not finding the solution that is so important as finding a problem to solve," Ambani said at an interactive session at the Nasscom India Leadership Forum 2017 here.

"If you focus on financial results the chances are you would not become great and solve a problem," he said.

Exhorting entrepreneurs never to get disheartened by failure, he said they should regard themselves as custodians of investors' money.

"Treat investor money even more carefully than your own," he said. Read more

Reliance Jio to launch on Sept 5: Top 10 things to know

Reliance Jio to launch on Sept 5: Top 10 things to know

The mega telecom disruption is finally here. Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) chairman Mukesh Ambani announced at the 42nd AGM that Jio will be launched on September 5, offering customers free domestic voice calls and zero roaming charges.

"Jio will out an end to voice call charges in India. No Jio customer will ever have to pay for voice calls again," Ambani said during the AGM.

Data tariff plans will begin from Rs 149 for 0.3 GB to Rs 4,999 for 75 GB. All data plans, except for the 0.3 GB plan, will also provide unlimited 4G data at night.

"These are the simplest and the most attractive tariff plans in the market, with the lowest data rates anywhere in the world," Ambani said.

Here are the top announcements from the AGM:

1) All domestic voice calls for Jio customers will be absolutely free. Roaming charges will also be zero across India.

2) India is 155th in the world for mobile broadband access; Jio will take the country to the top 10.Read more.

For more info about Reliance Jio 4G Plans.Click here