10 minute read
Mukesh Ambani
Ambani
Ambani’s Digital India Move towards Digitalization is reaching a peak in India due to the hard work and dedication of one prominent figure- Mukesh Ambani.
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Acomplex connection of wires and metal scrapes was used to assemble a computer, initiating a new world of digitalization. The world hasn’t looked back since. A standard has been set. Tech-giants and major corporations are stepping foot in this ripple. Developing countries like India are still in the budding stage of the digital revolution. Various steps are being taken to make “Digital India” a reality. One major force behind this move is a tech-giant “Jio”, a subsidiary under Reliance Industries. Jio is India’s most valued company. Changing the dynamics of digital reach, Jio has gained high recognition, user base, and fundings from major investors. The mastermind behind this rapid wave of digitalization, overtaking previously established telecommunications and service providers in India is none other than Mukesh Ambani.
The richest man in Asia is a tycoon of development and technological change. While many parts of the world were already introduced with digital advancements, India experienced its first wave of the internet in 1986 with a restricted permit to the educational and research community. Later in 1995, a key component of digitalization- the Internet was exposed to the common public. Due to high pricing, scarcely distributed devices, low connectivity, and fewer people utilizing the services the bloom of technology was slow. Nonetheless, the change was irreversible. Sooner than later, major Businesses understood the glory of technology and moved ahead with it. Jio tapped the power of technology and reached into the hands of every single person. At the launch, Jio’s 4G network was already spread in 18,000 cities and more than 200,000 remote areas. The company was confident to cover 90% of India’s population in 6 months. It became fairly possible to afford the internet which was costly earlier. It is the sharp mind and skills of Mukesh Ambani that is shaping nothing short of a digital revolution in India.
Digital India
Digital literacy is a very prominent need of the hour, reaping promising results for future generations. Every nation around the world is accepting digital literacy with open arms, understanding the changes it will bring about. The global pandemic- COVID-19 proved the righteousness of this decision. The government of India started its initiative of Digital India to make essential services easily available in remote areas. This movement is aiming towards a highly skilled India where every individual can afford basic technology and related services. Holding hands to accomplish ‘Digital India’, Mukesh Ambani- The richest Asian took major steps. He became the face of digital change. A revolutionary force in himself. Ambani said A better world with less dependence on fossil fuels, sustainable development, eco-friendly technology, minimal waste, and easy access to connectivity, all comes under future projects and dreams held close by Ambani. The master of textile industries who valued the change successfully carried India on his shoulders with his venture of JIO telecommunications. Within months a major subscription base was acquired. It took less than the blink of an eye to push many competing telecommunications companies off the chart. Jio arose from practically zero to a renowned name in every household. Digitalization can only evolve with accessible and affordable technology. Taking into consideration the high percentile of the Indian population that falls under the middle-class category, Jio telecom provided reasonable prices for various services initiating the biggest technological push in India. This revolution unfolded soon after the Jio launch. Beginning with free of cost services to slowly increasing the prices, Jio became a mega service provider.
With passing years, Reliance industries owned by Ambanis became a hub to the digital era. Jio successfully secured major fundings from tech-giants despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Facebook invested $5.7 billion, buying a stake of 9.99% in Jio. This was the first-ever investment made in Jio platforms since its inauguration. In the following months, Silverlake and sovereign wealth funds like the Saudi Public Investment Fund also invested in Jio platforms. Ambani’s Jio attracted well-established tech- companies like Qualcomm and Intel. To everyone’s amazement, Mukesh was able to convince Google to invest in Jio. A major funding acquisition where both Facebook and Google are involved. Pandemic wasn’t able to stop the digital dream of Ambani to transform India.
Mukesh Ambani related this overwhelming response of tech giants like Facebook and Silverlake investing in Jio as a big win for India. It is a belief in the potential that India holds for digital change. A land that can look different within a span of a few years. A goal where two decades into digitalization will support the Indian economy to humongous extremes. Later Ambani issued a statement saying...
I am working towards the ” transformation of
India into a digital society and that digital society incorporates all the future industries, so that the next 30 years of India is 100 times, like what we had never imagined”
Our vision is always rooted in ” furthering India’s inclusive and accelerated growth, propelled by the adoption of digital technologies, that helps improve the lives of 1.3 billion Indians ... our shareholders endorse this vision and mission. Their support further strengthens our resolve as we firmly set forth to build a
New Reliance for a
New India”
Indeed Mukesh Ambani is the charismatic leader putting diligent efforts into building a New India.
Just a mile away
A person with strong will power and determination to be successful stops at nothing. This statement describes the unending efforts of Mukesh Ambani towards the era of Digitalization. Technology isn’t stable. Technology keeps evolving. The fastpaced change in technology needs to be matched by quick adaptability in behavior and skills. To uplift the society in a direction of accepting patterns for the upcoming change, introduction to high-tech devices and services is essential. After successfully availing affordable mobile phones and telecom services to every individual, Jio caters to a mass market in India. The growth in the digital landscape of India since the advent of Jio is revolutionary. Jio made it possible for India to become the second-largest online market in the world. Soon, Jio stepped into new projects with a mastermind like Mukesh Ambani backing the ventures. Jio along with its parent unit Reliance Retail launched an e-commerce arm known as Jio mart across 200 cities. It is another major step to promote digital convenience among Indian consumers. The market dynamics changed frequently due to the ongoing pandemic, introducing the best opportunity to land online retail. This was a shift towards digital shopping, increasing comfort for consumers. Groceries are made available at the doorstep with easy payment options. The offline retail stores of a company which indulged in online business are at a bonus point during this shift. Jio Mart is already competing with pre-established e-commerce platforms.
Businesses made easy
Recently, Jio made a major move in collaboration with Whatsapp to give a digital push to small businesses. A country is powerful by its business model and economy. In the time of a great crisis like covid-19, Indian markets are opening gates for International investments with a mutually beneficial role. Mukesh Ambani along with Mark Zuckerberg announced a WhatsApp Pay feature. Thus leading Indian markets one step closer to digitalization. Payment feature via WhatsApp will be a game-changer for various across the nation, especially those living in remote areas. The already available wide user base of WhatsApp network will work as an incubator for the success of this new venture. Jio provides easy access to 4G internet and telecommunications. It also stepped in production of easy on cost mobile phones. After making the basics of digitalization handy and widely available to the point where even a financially constrained family can incur e-services, now Jio is ready with its e-commerce and WhatsApp pay features to take this blooming revolution to new heights. This feature will strongly target small and medium enterprises keeping money circulation easy and active at all times.
India is a golden bird, flying into the information age with quick adaptability and a high potential for change. Technology can grow as well as flourish if watered at the right intervals. The presence of online market has fairly increased the pandemic. Since China- the leading market of internet users has been out of the loop. India can change winds being the second largest market of internet consumers, by transforming into a powerful country. Making the transition smooth, mobile applications are available recognizing innovations from every field and service. Jio has its suite of applications covering everything from music, video streaming, education to Games, cloud, and meetings.
Jio's reach
Covering 365 degrees of every aspect Jio single-handedly rules as a king of digital force.
Placing new bets
History is a witness that some fallbacks are an essential component of every revolution. However, to learn from the mistakes of competitors beforehand saves future bets from falling apart. Technology is less than half its worth without the internet. Most innovations take internet speed as their key regulator. Accepting the rapid hike in demand for the internet, Jio is planning to launch 5G internet services in 2021. Various investors are in continuous touch to be a part of the 5G strategy. At present, India lacks a 5G telecom spectrum. For efficient testing of 5G services, Ambani aims to seek the government’s permission. Mukesh aims to switch all 2G connections in India by introducing affordable 5G mobile phones for the economically marginalized population in India. Along with the tech-giant Google and chip-maker like Qualcomm, Jio will scale mass production of new android mobile phones. Jio Mart is planning to expand to more towns and cities in the coming years. Covering local districts and smaller regions will be a tough task. Without extending the digital reach to every corner of the nation digitalization will be incomplete. Planning a local delivery system will be huge for employment generation as well as for the growth of technology in backward areas. With Jio Mart, Ambani will soon widen its retail services to electronics, stationery, and office supplies, putting a major competition with international e-commerce like Amazon. Though it will push major changes in retail helping many start-ups and small ventures, BigBasket- India’s largest e-grocer might face serious challenges. Ambani has already invested in an online Pharmacy buying majority stakes in the company. This will convert Jio into an all-rounder E-commerce platform. One destination to everything. One-stop to digital reality. A whole universe is available in a go. It can turn around the tables of the Indian economy fulfilling Ambani’s aim to make India a superpower in the next two decades. A vision of accomplishing ‘Digital India’ in the true sense.
Closing the gap
Ambani is a man of vision. He is appreciated for his new ventures and ideas of changing Indian lifestyle to adapt to digitalization smoothly. Moreover, he is appreciated for his concern towards a clean and environment-friendly approach towards growth. He said in a statement “The most important question we face is this: Can we produce growing amounts of energy we need to sustain our economies without harming the environment, without failing to fulfill our climate change obligations? We must be prepared to answer these questions with a very confident yes. Indeed, a clear vision where new developments lead to low carbon emissions, easy technology access, and a highly-skilled India. Mukesh Ambani is the man of his words. He doesn’t just dream, he delivers ten- folds higher. A business tycoon closing the gaps between the virtual and real world. Bridging distances and meeting demands.
A leader who is adamant to bring change. A leader with all the resources and economic edge. A leader with international ties. A man with ambitions and ideas that can transform decades of India. A wave of change is coming. Digitalization is the future. The digital world is a new reality.