Reliance Jio 4G: Future plan to bring 1Gbps broadband to 100 Indian cities is unlike any in the world today

Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) chairman, Mukesh Ambani announced plans to bring 1Gbps broadband to 100 cities in India. If the plan succeeds, and we see no reason why it shouldn’t, this will be the fastest and most widespread broadband network in India, and maybe even the world. As it stands today, only a handful of operators in India offer 1Gbps or faster plans and most of those plans are limited to Mumbai. As far as we’re aware , the only operators officially offering 1Gbps+ plans in India are Hayai and Reliance Ultraband. MTNL also offers up to 10Gbps plans, but these are not publicly listed plans. Do let us know of any other gigabit internet plans in the comments below. Hayai’s plans are available in a few selected pin codes in and around Mumbai. They offer 1Gbps plans starting at Rs 7,349 a month (with a 500 GB FUP) to Rs 12,499 a month for a 1Gbps unlimited plan and Rs 19,999 a month for a 10Gbps unlimited plan. Reliance Ultraband is only available in two areas within Mumbai and the details of the plan aren’t publicly available. The same goes for MTNL as well, which offers a whole slew of 100Mbps plans, but doesn’t publicly reveal details of their plans. BSNL is the only company that might put up a challenge to RIL’s plans because they’re the only broadband operator offering 100Mbps plans in 97 cities. In terms of bandwidth, however, they will be off by a factor of 10. Considering the above, 1Gbps coverage in 100 cities will truly revolutionise internet access in India. When compared to Google Fiber, which set up shop in the US in 2010, RIL’s plan is certainly ambitious. Fiber has managed to establish itself in just 8 cities over 6 years, with plans to bring Fiber to another 16 cities yet to materialise. Google Fiber plans in the US start at $70 (around Rs 4,700) a month for an unlimited data plan, with an option to include TV services at $130 (around Rs 8,700) a month. An additional $10 a month will get you unlimited local and STD calling. As a bonus, all Google Fiber subscribers get 1TB of Google Drive storage with TV subscribers getting 2TB of DVR. Services in the UK offer unlimited Gigabit plans for around Rs 4,000 as well. Current gigabit plans in India are two to three times that of global rates and we certainly hope that RIL can offer at least those rates here. Obviously, everyone will not opt for a 1Gbps connection, but cheap 1Gbps fibre all over India will mean cheaper and faster Internet for everyone as a whole. In his speech, Mukesh Ambani stated that “Data is the oxygen of digital life and oxygen must never be in short supply” and that “India’s digital mother tongue will be IP.” High-speed broadband access coupled with Jio 4G services might actually achieve that goal, and set a world record doing it. Disclaimer: Reliance Jio is owned by Reliance Industries, who also own Network18, the publisher of Firstpost and Tech2