Reliance Jio opens its cloud PC service to all Indian internet users
JioPC lets people run a virtual computer through any internet connection, no new hardware required. At roughly $11 for two months, it targets the millions of Indians whose ageing machines can't run modern AI software.
Key points
- Reliance Jio expanded JioPC on Wednesday to any Indian internet user, removing the earlier requirement to be a Jio broadband subscriber.
- Plans start at roughly $11 (₹1,000) for two months, rising to about $53 (₹5,000) per year for the highest-tier configuration.
- India had more than 65 million PCs in use in 2025, according to IDC, a market research firm, with consumer and small-business replacement cycles now stretching to five or six years.
- Jio hasn't disclosed whether its servers carry dedicated AI accelerator chips, a detail that matters a lot for its "AI-ready" pitch.
Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Jio has opened its cloud PC service to anyone in India with an internet connection. Before Wednesday, JioPC was only available to Jio's own broadband subscribers since its July 2025 launch. Now it works as a standalone subscription, no Jio SIM required.
We first covered JioPC when it launched for Jio broadband subscribers on 2 September. Wednesday's expansion is the move that makes it a product anyone can actually consider.
What is JioPC, and how does it work?
JioPC is a virtual computer running inside Jio's data centres, streamed to whatever screen you're sitting in front of. The heavy computing happens on Jio's servers; what you see and click travels back and forth over your internet line. An eight-year-old laptop could, in theory, run software its own processor could never handle. The top-tier plan offers eight virtual CPUs (processors that run a computer's calculations), 16 gigabytes of RAM (the short-term memory a computer uses while working), and one terabyte of storage.
How much does it cost?
Prices sit well below the cost of a new machine.
| Plan | RAM | Storage | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-month starter | 8 GB | 500 GB | ₹1,000 (~$11) |
| 12-month standard | 8 GB | 500 GB | ₹4,000 (~$42) |
| 12-month premium | 16 GB | 1 TB | ₹5,000 (~$53) |
A new entry-level laptop in India typically costs several times the annual subscription price.
Should Indian PC users take this seriously?
It depends on where you live and how reliable your connection is.
JioPC requires a stable internet line at all times. Cut the connection and your work stops. That matters most in smaller cities and towns, where affordable computing has the biggest potential audience but connectivity is patchier. Bharath Shenoy, IDC's senior market analyst, noted to TechCrunch that refurbished PCs offer a real alternative: buyers own the hardware outright, pay no monthly bill, and aren't dependent on a signal.
Then there's the "AI-ready" label. Jio markets JioPC that way, but it hasn't confirmed its servers carry the dedicated AI accelerator chips that define a true AI PC, a machine built to run generative AI (the technology behind tools like ChatGPT) locally without any internet connection. Until Jio says more about its underlying hardware, that claim deserves a raised eyebrow.
What happens next?
Prabhu Ram, vice president at the Gurugram-based analyst firm CyberMedia Research, told TechCrunch that JioPC won't replace conventional PCs. It could instead build a parallel, price-sensitive tier for students and households for whom buying a new machine was never realistic. Ram's actual test is sharper: whether users come to see cloud computing as a daily utility rather than a workaround, and whether they'll pay a recurring subscription for computing power instead of owning what sits on their desk.
Indians have traditionally preferred owning their hardware. That's the cultural habit Jio has to shift.
IDC puts the installed base at more than 65 million PCs in 2025, and it expects that figure to approach 69 million by end of 2026. With replacement cycles lengthening, the pool of people running ageing machines is growing fast. Whether they subscribe or keep limping along is a question the market will answer within a year or two.
Common questions
Can I use JioPC if I do not have a Jio SIM or Jio broadband?
Yes. As of Wednesday's expansion, JioPC is open to any internet user in India, regardless of which provider supplies their connection.
Will JioPC work if my internet cuts out?
No. The service stops the moment your connection drops, because all the computing runs on Jio's servers, not your own device. A conventional PC or a refurbished laptop keeps working offline.
Is JioPC the same as an AI PC?
Not exactly. Jio markets the service as "AI-ready", but hasn't confirmed its servers carry the specialised AI accelerator chips that distinguish a true AI PC, a machine designed to run AI software locally without any internet connection.
