Reliance Jio accelerates digital inclusion with Jio Bharat phone to bridge 2G divide

In a milestone step towards their ‘2G-Mukt Bharat’ vision, Reliance Jio has unveiled the ‘Jio Bharat’ phone platform, aiming to uplift the digital capabilities of India’s existing 250 million feature phone users.

This new platform capitalizes on device and network capabilities to provide internet-enabled services on entry-level phones, thereby democratizing digital services. Other phone brands, beginning with Karbonn, are set to adopt this platform to construct ‘Jio Bharat phones’ in collaboration with Reliance Retail.

Starting from 7th July 2023, Jio is initiating a beta trial for the first one million ‘Jio Bharat’ phones, set to be carried out across 6,500 tehsils. This trial aims to test the scalability of the platform and processes required to transition millions of feature phone users towards more advanced, internet-enabled devices.

The ‘Jio Bharat’ phone, priced at just ₹ 999, is set to be the most affordable internet-enabled phone on the market, complemented by a monthly plan that’s 30% cheaper and offers seven times more data than rival feature phone plans. At only ₹ 123 per month, customers will have access to unlimited voice calls and 14 GB data, a stark contrast to competing ₹ 179 plans that offer voice calls and a mere 2GB data.

Jio Bharat phone ushers in affordable internet-enabled devices. Photo courtesy of Reliance Industries Limited.

Despite India’s lead in the 5G revolution, around 250 million mobile subscribers remain in the 2G era, dependent on feature phones that limit internet access. This digital disempowerment and disparity have only been amplified as other telecom operators have raised the minimum cost of connectivity, effectively alienating those unable to afford smartphones.

Jio Bharat aims to level the playing field, providing high-quality, affordable data for everyone, thereby marking the beginning of ‘Digital Freedom’ for India’s feature phone users and bridging the digital divide. Different societal segments will be able to achieve more with the enhanced features and digital capabilities that this phone offers.

Commenting on this initiative, Akash Ambani, Chairman, Reliance Jio, said, “There are still 250 million mobile phone users in India who remain ‘trapped’ in the 2G era, unable to tap into basic features of the internet at a time when the world stands at the cusp of a 5G revolution. The new Jio Bharat phone is another step in that direction. It continues to demonstrate our focus on bringing disproportionate and true value for different segments of users. At Jio, we have and will continue to take bold steps to eradicate this DIGITAL DIVIDE and welcome every Indian to JOIN THIS MOVEMENT.”