Startup Story Team
Reliance Industries’ digital arm, Jio Platforms, has unveiled JioPC, a virtual-desktop service that plugs into the familiar Jio set-top box and instantly converts any television into a fully-fledged, cloud-powered computer. Launched on 13 July 2025, the service is rolling out via a short free trial and a wait-list, with the goal of making personal-computing power as ubiquitous as the TV remote.
What exactly is JioPC?
JioPC is a remote desktop environment hosted in Jio’s cloud. Instead of buying a physical laptop or tower, users connect a keyboard and mouse to their Jio set-top box and log in to a browser-based interface that looks and feels like a traditional PC desktop. LibreOffice comes pre-loaded for everyday productivity, while Microsoft 365, design tools, coding IDEs and ed-tech portals can be accessed through any modern browser. Because everything runs in the cloud, there is no local storage to manage, no software updates to install and no viruses to clean.
How does it work?
All compute and storage live in Jio’s data-centres; the set-top box simply streams the desktop to the TV and relays keyboard-and-mouse inputs back to the server. Jio says the system is “AI-ready”, hinting that heavier workloads-video rendering or large-language-model playgrounds-will eventually run on demand. The obvious trade-off is connectivity: a stable broadband line is mandatory, and peripherals such as webcams or printers are not yet supported.
Pricing and availability:
During launch, JioPC is bundled free with select JioFiber and AirFiber plans. For households on other ISPs, the set-top box plus service can be bought outright for ₹ 5,499 (≈ $64). After the trial window, Jio is expected to charge a small monthly subscription that scales with storage and performance tiers-details are still under wraps.
Why is Jio betting on cloud PCs?
- Closing India’s PC gap: Roughly 70 % of Indian households own a TV, but only 15 % have a computer. JioPC piggy-backs on that installed base, lowering the cost barrier for students, gig workers and small businesses.
- Upselling broadband: JioFiber competes in a crowded market. A built-in “computer” differentiates the bundle and locks users into Jio’s ecosystem.
- AI-distribution play: Reliance is reportedly in talks with OpenAI; a cloud desktop inside millions of homes would be an ideal channel for GPU-intensive AI apps and ChatGPT-style assistants.
Hurdles and open questions
Analysts point to three execution risks:
- Digital literacy: convincing first-time PC users that a TV screen can replace a laptop.
- Bandwidth fractures: rural and tier-2 markets-where PC penetration is lowest-often suffer from inconsistent broadband, the one thing JioPC cannot operate without.
- App ecosystem: LibreOffice is a start, but consumers may demand Adobe, AutoCAD or advanced gaming—licensing and streaming those experiences will test Jio’s cloud infrastructure.
