Jio is Getting More Investments from America

Amidst lockdown India's richest man and his son, Mukesh Ambani and Akash Ambani is busy with their video conferences as they are drawing investment from overseas one after another. 

On April 21, 2020 Facebook announced Rs 43,574 crore investment into Jio Platforms, and in two weeks Jio got two more investments from America. 

airtel vs Jio LTE Speed Comparison

This week I ported to Airtel and I could not resist to make a comparison of two 4G/LTE giants - airtel and Jio.

Day : 22nd July, 2017
Location : Shyamabazar, R.G.Kar Medical College Campus.
I found that in this campus airtel has some issues with LTE signal, probably because of the old buildings.
Weather: It was raining.

airtel 4G speedtest:

FAQ to Jio 4G/LTE Voice Services

I already have been using JIO's digital services over Jio MiFi device since August end. I did not have much interest to get a JIO SIM for mobile as I did not like the idea to stand in a queue for long time to get a free SIM.

I had two barcodes - on Redmi Note 3 and Honor Holly and found that Honor Holly's bar code was stolen away already. So I prompted for using the barcode generated on RN3.

To my surprise the queue has been vanished and thanks to JIO's e-KYC solution the process is very fast.


1. What is JIO's e-KYC solution for SIM activation?

Jio makes the subscribers's document submission and activation of the connection on the SIM completely digital - it's superfast digital processing service by JIO e-KYC solution.

What you need to get a JIO connection in 10 minutes or less? Get a 4G smartphone, download MyJio app and generate the barcode. Now walk into any Reliance Digital store with your Adhaar Card and rest will be taken care of by the stuffs there. You will get a JIO SIM in few minutes after verification and submission of your application form online.

In my experience it hardly takes 5 minutes to complete the whole procedure.

JIO Data Speed Fell Drastically within 3 Weeks of Launch Announcement

I am bit hurry while typing down this story. Let's cut it short, for last 3 days I found that JIO's downlink is quite slow, and very much slow whenever I go indoor and Jio LTE moves to LTE1800 or LTE850.

Using the Jio's Netvelocity app, I checked out all three LTE frequencies - Band 40/Band 3/Band 5

Location : Barrackpore
Time : 00:00 to 01:00 am, 2016-09-24

Telecom Update: Airtel is Ahead of the Curve, PSTN to All-IP Upgrade

When the commercial launch of Jio was announced with a bang, it basically hit all mobile operators of India. Big three of Indian telecom - A-Vo-Id will be hit severely in coming days. However right now Airtel is in the best position among them to fight back to Jio.

1. Pan India LTE presence & 2300MHz in 17 circles 

Airtel has 20MHz x 2300MHz spectrum in 17 circles and in all circles they have complimentary 1800MHz spectrum for LTE roll out.

Vodafone & Idea have no spectrum in 2300MHz and they are rolling out LTE/4G on just 5MHz of 1800MHz band.

2. Airtel will spend less on spectrum in future

With this much of spectrum bank, Airtel will have to spend less in near future to buy out spectrum.

In the upcoming spectrum auction in October this year Vodafone & Idea will shell out money to buy the LTE compatible spectrum. Also they will have to spend a huge to roll out LTE, while Airtel has better LTE coverage than the duo.

3. LTE-A by Airtel 

To counter act Jio, Airtel has launched faster LTE Advanced in Mumbai & Bengaluru which can offer upto 135Mbps downlink. LTE-A is actually a software upgrade for carrier aggregation - 20MHz 2300MHz + 5MHz 1800MHz.

While Vodafone and Idea are away from such things for atleast 1 year. They have to acquire more spectrum in upcoming auction and then they have to deploy the technology and then only they can offer such things.

For Jio carrier aggregation would be easier - they have LTE over 2300/1800/850MHz already and just a click they will begin offering LTE-A in all circles.

PSTN to All-IP Upgrade becomes a Reality

Nokia and Orange Polska had a succesful pilot project to migrate 4,000 subscribers on legacy public switched telephone network (PSTN) to all-IP unified network in a suburban area of Warsaw using Nokia’s PSTN Smart Transform solution. As the officials said, the migration will help to support current and future broadband needs as well as IP-based voice services and significant operational benefits including energy savings and real estate optimization.

This may be helpful for BSNL who is struggling across the country on all turfs - be it landline, wired broadband, or mobile voice & data. 

Is Jio Doing a Google Thing in India?

With the announcement of commercial launch of Jio in India, it is now time for the operators to re-think their position in the market. Over the years telcos were providing services on their networks and now they are fat with the traditional voice calls and texts. As Mukesh Ambani explains it as 'Datagiri' it is actually the network capacity and reach of network will define how strong is the mobile operator.

Along with LTE network (both TDD & FDD over 2300 MHz and 1800/850MHz) for mobile services, Jio will roll out nearly 1 million WiFi hotspots across country by middle of 2017. Jio's LTE and WiFi Hotspots are backed by enormous fiber backbone. What I want say that Jio will upkick level of India's telecommunications to something which developed nations are enjoying.

Project Fi - Google's MVNO in US:

In US Google is doing similar thing without owning a network. In April 2015, Google has launched its MVNO services in US under the branding of 'Project Fi' which connects the user to best WiFi or cellular networks (backed by Sprint, T-Mobile, US Cellular and Three). Google announced LTE/HSPA+ roaming in Europe for Project Fi users in February 2016, while international roaming is available over 135 countries as of now.

For roaming in Europe for Project Fi users in July this year Google had made a deal with Hue to use different operators across the continent. However as per a Hue spokesperson the arrangement does not cover markets where Hutchison lacks a network presence.

Jio's Wireless Data Goes Commercial, Jio MyFi Review

While we are waiting for Jio to announce its commercial launch, Jio has actually launched part of its services commercially. That's data services i.e. wireless broadband from Jio via WiFi hotspots has already been launched.

Though Jio has kept mum, almost 2 weeks back all Reliance Digital stores started selling MiFi devices with out any invitation, referral codes or anything. You walk into the store, pay Rs 2899, Rs 1999, submit your ID proof and a passport size photo and you get the device. But the device does not come with a SIM card itself, rather you will get the SIM once your KYC documents are verified.

 ** Update: On 1st September Mukesh Ambani has removed the curtain over Jio. Jio services will be free to all customers till 31st December 2016. Post that you can use Jio prepaid or postpaid plans. The plans are coming with unlimited voice & text, plus data (with unlimited data in night and WiFi data to be used on JioNet public Wi-Fi networks). 

Once verified you will get a text from Jio on your mobile and then visit the store again to collect the SIM. This whole procedure takes 3-4 days generally, but it might take up to 10 days. In my case I got the text on 6th day. Note that you can't select a number - Jio will allot a no. to you.

Yes You Can Use Jio 4G Now - Get Invitation and Buy LYF Smartphone

Reliance Jio is yet to be launched, and only Mukesh Ambani knows when. However Jio services are already in use by Jio and RIL employees and it has been expanded by invitation system to general population. A Jio user can send 10 invitations to other non-Jio users to jump into Jio 4G.

Well there is a catch, you need to buy a LYF smartphone to get this offer. Once you show referral code to Reliance Digital store you buy a LYF phone with a Jio SIM card.

Have a look into it:

In another note, check this picture too !!

Jionet Log-in Page Shows JioChat Offers

3 Mistakes of Reliance Jio

India's one of the largest conglomerate Reliance Industries had launched its 4G services under Jio brand among its employees in December last year. Since then Jio is working hard for commercial roll out and continuing their previous business strategy they keep all stuffs under wrap. Many speculated that Jio may be launched  after 90 days of soft launch, that is April is the time for Jio. But this did not happen yet.

If you see the media reports and analysis around you (including us) everyone is talking about how Jio can beat incumbents and how incumbents beat Jio or how Jio can disrupt Indian telecom. All stories are saying same thing more or less. I must say I am bored too to speculate Jio's launch and services. Let's talk about Jio's failed strategy.

Missed First Mover Advantages

Jio, being a greenfield telecom venture is taking more time to launch. Also under powered 4G ecosystem & VoLTE (which would be the voice platform for Jio) keeps them busy to make the commercial launch delayed.

Now entry of Jio was confimed back in 2010 when it bought out Infotel, pan India BWA winner. Every year Jio's launch is anticipated but does not happen.

2010-2016 - it has been a long time and Airtel began its 4G operations in 2012 and now present over 300+ markets. Though Jio missed the first mover advantage but initially Airtel's wait-n-watch policy to 4G gave Jio a second chance. But again Jio missed it. Thus incumbents (A-Vo-Id group) got their time to shuffle their 4G business. Idea and Airtel are expanding real fast while Vodafone is connecting its major markets with 4G/LTE.

Airtel, largest operator in the country also packed its bag with more spectrum acquiring Aircel and Videocon partially. With the upgraded spectrum bank Airtel is no longer at a position down to Jio, rather completely prepared for Jio's entry.

LYF smartphones can't be a part of lives of Young People:

As Jio preparing for 4G launch, Reliance Industries's digital retail arm, Reliance Digital has launched its own smmartphone brand - LYF.

In 2003 when Mukesh Ambani launched Reliance India Mobile, he came up with its own handsets at subsidized price with lots of free goodies. The strategy worked as RIM was a CDMA player. But LTE market is already like GSM in India, people are using their own handsets. Til now Airtel is offering reverse bundling with selected handsets like from Samsung.

LYF smartphones are made by Chinese OEMs like ZTE and some other little known companies like CK Telecom, packed with moderately good specs but priced not accordingly compared to what other handset makers are offering. LYF Earth 1 costs Rs 19500 approx. and Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 costs 9999/11999 but RN3 comes with way better specs. This is just an example. LeTV, Oppo, Vivo, Gionee - all have better speced and lowered priced devices which supports LTE on 800/1800 Mhz (FDD), on 2300 Mhz (TDD) as well as VoLTE and VoWiFi.

So why someone would buy LYF smartphones? Even if Jio packs amazing free goodies LYF smartphones will have few takers. Young geberation now don't buy phones for making calls, texting or internet surfing; smartphones are more than that.

And if Jio restricts the offer only with LYF smartphones, it will be a total disastrous plan for the company.

Update: In May Jio has started offering services to everyone via an invitation system. But there is a catch you need to buy a LYF phone from Reliance Digital. You will get unlimited everything for 90 days. But if you already bought a LYF phone, the offer is not applicable to you.

Flawed Media Strategy

From the very begining Jio started playing games with media. Atleast once in 2 weeks every newspaper talk about Jio. The whole media hype makes Jio like a upcoming god in Indian telecom. I believe that Jio intentionally did these to be in the limelight and to create a customer base who will jump into Jio once it is launched. However with this much of delay, and 4G options from other operators Jio fanboys are reducing in number.

Investors and shareholders of Reliance Industries are also made confident about Jio with these media reports.

Ultimately all are bullshit. Jio is yet to have proper media handler and as of now RIL mediapeople is handling it.

What they missed, Jio's digital services are actually tech thing and young people push these stuffs working. Many tech bloggers are frustrated as Jio doesn't offer a taste of Jio LTE/4G and other digital services.

Overall Jio is a mess, but as they are on beta mode of commercial launch they are now out of danger - DoT can't take steps to Jio. 

Reliance Jio 4G LTE Network Trials Going On: Signal Live Across Kolkata

LTE Stories in Africa & Indonesia Suggest Reliance Jio’s Success in Data-Starved India

Reliance Jio is all ready with guns and bullets as the commercial operations will go live by December this year. While everyone concerned believe that Jio will disrupt the market causing existing players to bleed, let’s take a look at how Jio’s data- only model can work in India.

Though Jio has been in the limelight of technology media from the very first, we were actually given information by Jio only as much as they wanted us to know. Still there is no update about Jio’s voice policy – is it VOLTE or VoIP or a fall back to Reliance Communications’ 2G network?

Jio wants to be more than just a data service provider; rather they have pushed their fiber plan to reach millions of Indians’ homes. They have laid some, borrowed from others and have become a part of international submarine cable (Bay of Bengal Gateway).

Without voice or being a ‘dumb pipe’ model is nothing new. Rather, before LTE went mainstream, there were some WIMAX players who relied upon data- only model. Some succeeded, some did not – but everyone moved to LTE eventually.

Let us take a look at how LTE has changed the scenario in Africa and Indonesia.

In Africa, there has been a recent surge in telecom investment, and a lot is coming in the form of LTE deployment. There are several players who earlier rolled out WiMAX, and are now offering LTE.

A List of Africa’s data- only LTE operators: