Jio

Indiaโ€™s mobile industry lobby is pushing for tariff corrections as network spending rises faster than service revenues. The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) says operators face a growing mismatch between capital outlays and tariff-led returns. By its estimate, the cumulative gap up to 2024 was already around Rs 10,000 crore and is widening in 2025 as data consumption accelerates. COAI argues that a handful of large traffic generators (LTGs) are responsible for most network load without directly contributing to network build costs. Expect a mix of tariff rationalization, plan redesign, and targeted capex as operators chase sustainable returns.
India Mobile Congress 2025 in New Delhi framed a clear ambition: scale domestic innovation, shape 6G, and turn telecom into a larger engine of GDP growth. Leaders underscored a whole-of-government approach, with multiple ministries backing IMC and the Department of Telecommunications and the Cellular Operators Association of India co-hosting. Indiaโ€™s telecom and digital sector is estimated to contribute roughly 12โ€“14% to GDP today. Leaders at IMC projected this could reach about 20% by the mid-2030s if India scales advanced connectivity, software-led services, and domestic manufacturing. Indiaโ€™s 6G push was tied to a potential GDP uplift exceeding a trillion dollars by 2035.
India is poised to greenlight commercial satellite communication services once TRAI issues final pricing for satellite spectrum use and associated charges. The communications minister indicated the policy and licensing groundwork for satellite broadband is largely complete, with two GMPCS licenses issued and one additional letter of intent granted. The final trigger is the Telecom Regulatory Authority of Indiaโ€™s decision on spectrum pricing and usage fees for satcom bands. After that, operators can commence rolloutsโ€”initially for enterprise and backhaul, then for consumer broadband in selected markets. Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb and Reliance Jioโ€™s satellite unit are positioned to move early, with constellation capacity and gateways progressing.
At India Mobile Congress 2025, Jio framed a broad agenda that ties devices, networks, AI skills, and safety into a national-scale digital strategy. The message from Jioโ€™s chairman was clear: Indiaโ€™s telecom flywheel now spans the full value chain, from semiconductors and device platforms to fraud management and the next wave of 6G research. Telcos are shifting from pure connectivity to platform businesses that bundle devices, cloud access, security, and AI services. JioPC is positioned as an โ€œAI-readyโ€ computer that turns any screen into a managed endpoint, delivered through a subscription model.
Indiaโ€™s Digital Communications Commission has sent most of TRAIโ€™s satellite spectrum recommendations back for review, signaling a tougher stance on pricing, compliance, and market safeguards. TRAI recommended that satellite internet providers pay 4% of adjusted gross revenue (AGR) as spectrum usage charges, an additional Rs 500 per urban subscriber per year, and a minimum annual spectrum fee of Rs 3,500 per MHz when the AGR-linked payout falls short. At its September 16 meeting, the DCCโ€”comprising senior DoT officials and representatives from finance, IT, and NITI Aayogโ€”reviewed the satcom framework and withheld approval on most elements.
Reliance Jio’s Haptik has launched WhatsApp and voice-based AI agents for small and midsize businesses (SMBs) starting at 10,000, signaling a step-change in how Indian firms automate customer engagement at scale. Haptik is extending its SMB platform, Interakta WhatsApp-first CRM and support suite used by over 50,000 businessesto include autonomous AI agents for chat and voice. The entry pack is priced at 10,000 and covers roughly 2,000 AI-driven conversations, putting the effective cost per interaction in the 35 range. Crucially, they support 22 Indian languages. Haptik reports that early adopters are automating up to 80% of repetitive support queries and seeing 2025% lift in lead-to-sale conversions.
Reliance Jio’s 2026 IPO could be Indiaโ€™s largest public listing, with a projected valuation between โ‚น10โ€“12 lakh crore. As Jio Platforms prepares to float 2.5โ€“5% equity, the move could reshape 5G pricing, digital infrastructure investments, and ARPU strategies across the telecom stack. With cloud, AI, and enterprise services gaining traction, Jioโ€™s IPO positions it as a multi-product digital powerhouse. Airtel and Vodafone Idea may face intensified competition as capital deployment and service bundling accelerate.
India’s telecom usage is now predominantly indoors, and TRAI’s new property rating framework puts digital connectivity on par with core utilities. TRAI’s chairperson flagged a decisive shift: most mobile data is consumed inside homes, offices, malls, hospitals, and transit hubs. Connectivity inside buildings is moving from convenience to necessity. TRAI’s 2024 Regulations introduce a voluntary, performance-based star rating that assesses how ready a property is to deliver high-quality broadband and mobile connectivity. The framework encourages developers to embed Digital Connectivity Infrastructure (DCI) at design stage, aligns with Digital India and Smart Cities Mission, and invites ministries and agencies to incorporate DCI into guidelines, tenders, and training.
The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), representing Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea, is pushing back against direct 5G spectrum allocation for enterprises. COAI argues that Indiaโ€™s urban coverage, revenue priorities, and national security risks make an operator-led model via spectrum leasing or network slicing, more viable. The Department of Telecommunications is reviewing TRAIโ€™s recommendation, with the decision set to shape Indiaโ€™s private 5G market for years.
Reliance Jio has claimed the title of the worldโ€™s largest telecom operator with 488 million subscribers, including 191 million on its 5G network. Despite a 25% tariff hike, Jioโ€™s 5G adoption continues to soar, making up 45% of its total wireless data traffic. Backed by investments in AI, 6G, and satellite internetโ€”plus a partnership with SpaceXโ€™s Starlinkโ€”Jio is expanding its reach beyond India to become a global tech leader.
Indiaโ€™s internet subscriber base hit 969.10 million in FY25, with broadband users rising 2.17% and narrowband shrinking. TRAI data shows wireless ARPU up 16.89%, strong wireline growth, rural connectivity gains, and Jio-Airtel dominance โ€” while DTH shrinks and OTT rises.
Starlink plans to enter Indiaโ€™s broadband market with a $10/month satellite internet service, aiming to reach 10 million users. Backed by SpaceX, the offering challenges local 5G and FWA providers like Jio and Airtel while targeting underserved rural regions. Regulatory hurdles, hardware costs, and network capacity may influence its success.

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