Jio to expand operations outside India: RIL chairman Mukesh Ambani

Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani on Friday said that Jio will expand its operations beyond India as India’s biggest telecom operator aims to make its public market debut by the first half of 2026.

“Jio is making all arrangements to file for its IPO (initial public offering). We are aiming to list Jio by the first half of 2026, subject to all necessary approvals. This will demonstrate that Jio is capable of creating the same quantum of value as our global counterparts,” Ambani said while addressing RIL shareholders at the company’s 48th Annual General Meeting.

Billionaire Ambani, who is also Asia’s richest man, credited Jio for ending India’s digital poverty. Jio laid the foundation for India’s digital public infrastructure and enabled the creation of the world’s third-largest start-up ecosystem, he said.

Jio has crossed the 500 million customers mark, Ambani said, adding the telco giant "will herald the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution in India."

Reliance is developing AI as a new growth engine, besides embedding AI across all its businesses, from retail to telecom, from energy to entertainment, Ambani said.

“Breakthroughs in artificial intelligence (AI) and allied deep technologies have already begun to boost productivity, efficiency and human potential to unimaginable levels,” said the chairman of India’s biggest private company.

“Because of the miraculous power, AI can now be called the new Kamdhenu, the divine wish-fulfilling cow of our age,” he added.

India, with its scale, talent and entrepreneurial spirit, is uniquely positioned to lead in this new era of AI, clean energy and genomics, said Ambani. “Globally, the dynamics of employment are undergoing a shift towards flexibility driven mainly by AI and automation,” he added.

Amid the challenging geopolitical environment, Ambani said the global economy today is navigating through an era of great uncertainty. “Geopolitical tensions are rising, volatility is persistent and predictability is scarce,” he said.

“It is our hope that the world leaders choose cooperation over conflict, dialogue over discord and win-win agreements over zero-sum rivalries,” said Ambani.

“The world is realising that conflict produces no winners whereas cooperation ensures shared prosperity. When nations cooperate, trade flows freely, investments flourish and everyone wins,” he added.

“Despite geopolitical uncertainty, one truth is clear - India is on the rise. And India’s rise is unstoppable. India already ranks among the world’s Top 4 global economies. With the right set of reforms, advanced manufacturing capabilities and a national priority on deep tech, our economy can grow at 10% annually. This will mean that the per capita income of Indians could rise 4-5 times within the next two decades, making India not just a prosperous nation but also a more equal nation,” Ambani said.