Mukesh Ambani, India’s richest person, is expanding his Reliance Jio’s cloud PC service to a broader market. Previously available only to Jio’s broadband customers, JioPC is now offered as a standalone subscription to all internet-connected users in India, aiming to transform outdated computers into terminals capable of running modern AI applications.
Cloud-based virtual computer subscription now open
JioPC’s model does not involve selling new devices, but rather streaming a virtual computer from Jio’s cloud to the user’s existing device. According to Jio’s announced specifications, the service can provide up to 8 virtual CPUs, 16 GB of RAM, and 1 TB of storage. The company states that even an eight-year-old computer can gain the computing power needed to run next-generation AI applications through this service.
Subscription pricing targets a low-entry market.
Jio's pricing clearly targets price-sensitive users. The two-month plan starts at 1,000 Indian Rupees; for the 12-month plan, the 8GB RAM and 500GB storage model is priced at 4,000 Indian Rupees, and the 16GB RAM and 1TB storage model is priced at 5,000 Indian Rupees.
This means Jio is trying to shift from “buying a computer” to “buying computing power on demand.” This model reduces upfront hardware costs for households, students, and small businesses that prefer not to frequently upgrade devices, while also extending the usable life of existing equipment.
Extending the replacement cycle creates opportunities.
TechCrunch, citing IDC data, reports that India's installed base of PCs has exceeded 65 million units in 2025, with approximately 34 million being consumer devices and around 31 million being commercial devices; this number could approach 69 million by the end of 2026.
Meanwhile, the PC replacement cycle in India is extending. IDC analysts note that consumers and small-to-medium businesses typically replace their computers every 5 to 6 years, up from 4 to 5 years in 2022; enterprise replacement cycles have also lengthened from approximately 3 years to about 4 years. Jio believes that by shifting computing power and storage to data centers, the usable life of older PCs can be further extended.
Network dependency remains the primary limitation.
However, this service is unlikely to replace traditional PCs. Market analysts believe JioPC is more likely to create a parallel market, primarily targeting budget-conscious users who would not have purchased new AI-powered computers anyway, rather than fully replacing local devices.
Resistance is also clear. First, JioPC relies on a stable internet connection; any disruption or fluctuation in network performance directly impacts the user experience, which is particularly critical in smaller cities and towns. Second, Indian users have long been accustomed to owning their own hardware rather than paying ongoing subscription fees. Additionally, refurbished computers already offer strong competitiveness in the low-price market, allowing users to purchase devices directly at a lower cost.
In addition, Jio defines its device as “AI-ready,” offering an alternative path to the traditional definition of AI PCs. The report notes that Jio has not disclosed detailed specifications of the underlying hardware supporting this cloud service, nor has it mentioned any dedicated AI accelerators for local generative AI tasks. For Jio, the real test will be whether users are willing to treat cloud computing power as a daily tool rather than a temporary workaround.