Mukesh Ambani’s company Reliance Jio has opened its JioPC cloud computing service to all internet users in India. The company says computers up to eight years old can run modern AI applications without hardware upgrades. The service starts at ₹1,000 (about $11) for two months. A 12-month subscription costs ₹4,000 (about $42) for 8GB RAM and 500GB of storage, and ₹5,000 (about $53) for 16GB RAM and 1TB of storage.
According to IDC, more than 65 million computers were in use in India in 2025, comprising approximately 34 million consumer devices and 31 million commercial devices. The installed base is expected to approach 69 million by the end of 2026. Consumers and small businesses now typically replace their computers every five to six years, while businesses do so roughly every four years.
Jio aims to extend these periods by moving processing power and storage to data centers rather than devices. Prabhu Ram of CyberMedia Research said the service could create a parallel market for price-sensitive households and students, where users pay for computing capacity instead of purchasing hardware; however, he does not expect it to replace traditional computers.
IDC analyst Bharath Shenoy said users in India prefer owning computers and that a subscription would need to be worthwhile enough to give up the benefit of working offline. JioPC’s reliance on a fixed internet connection could create problems, particularly in smaller cities, while refurbished computers also offer a low-cost alternative. Jio also did not disclose whether the hardware supporting its cloud service includes dedicated accelerators for on-device generative AI. It was noted that the real test is whether cloud computing will be adopted as an everyday necessity rather than a temporary solution.
Why it matters
JioPC offers households, students and small businesses that struggle to afford the cost of acquiring a computer an option in which they pay for processing capacity instead of purchasing hardware. This model could extend device replacement cycles; however, it remains unclear to what extent it will change Indian users’ preference for owning a computer. The service’s ability to gain traction in daily use depends on the adequacy of a fixed internet connection and whether users find the absence of offline functionality acceptable. Connection problems, particularly in smaller cities, along with refurbished computers serving as a lower-cost alternative, could limit the subscription’s reach. In addition, Jio’s failure to disclose whether it offers dedicated accelerators for on-device generative AI leaves open the question of how heavily the service relies on cloud-based processing power.