RJio ready to work with local cable operators for widening GigaFiber reach

Reliance Jio Infocomm, the telecom company controlled by Mukesh Ambani, has reportedly received a strong response from users to its Jio GigaFiber home broadband service, according to a news report in the Economic Times. The fibre-to-the-home broadband service was announced at Reliance Industries’ 41st Annual General Meeting, and registrations started from August 15.

Though Jio did not specify actual numbers, it said the company had received a strong response from over 900 cities and towns for Jio GigaFibre, according to the report. However, the company is also reportedly facing some resistance from local cable operators in extending its connectivity in key markets for last-mile connectivity. Citing local cable operators in Delhi, Mumbai and Karnataka, the report added that the resistance from cable operators was on account of Jio not involving them, and instead approaching prospective consumers directly to pitch its broadband services. The local operators fear that Jio might announce ultra-affordable tariffs for broadband connections, similar to how they did in the telecom space. This would hurt their business and they might not be able to compete.