Reliance Jio, led by Mukesh Ambani, has expanded its JioPC cloud service to all internet users across India. The service, which streams a virtual PC from Jio's cloud, is being positioned as a method to enable older computers to handle modern AI applications without requiring hardware upgrades.
Originally launched in July 2025 for Jio's broadband subscribers, JioPC is now available as a standalone subscription. Users with any internet connection can access plans offering up to eight virtual CPUs, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage. Jio suggests the service can provide necessary computing power for AI applications to machines as old as eight years.
Subscription plans begin at ₹1,000 (approximately $11) for two months. Longer subscriptions include a 12-month plan for ₹4,000 (around $42) for 8GB RAM and 500GB storage, or ₹5,000 (about $53) for the 16GB RAM and 1TB storage configuration.
This initiative comes as PC replacement cycles in India are lengthening. Consumers and small businesses are now replacing PCs every five to six years, up from four to five years in 2022, according to IDC. Enterprises are also extending their machine lifecycles to about four years, from three previously.
Prabhu Ram, vice president at CyberMedia Research, noted that JioPC could create a market where consumers pay for computing capability rather than repeatedly investing in hardware upgrades. However, he does not anticipate this model replacing conventional PCs, suggesting it could serve a price-sensitive segment.
A challenge for JioPC is the traditional preference among Indians for owning hardware over subscription-based PC services, as highlighted by IDC's senior market analyst Bharath Shenoy. The service also requires a stable internet connection, which could impact user experience in areas with unreliable connectivity.