Jio Platforms Eyes Overseas Markets For UBR Technology As Telecom Operators Seek Low-Cost Broadband Solutions

Jio Platforms is looking to take its unlicensed broadband radio (UBR) technology to overseas markets after deploying it across India, potentially opening a new business line for the Reliance Industries-backed technology company.

The wireless technology can help telecom operators connect homes in areas where laying fibre is expensive or difficult. Jio is now exploring partnerships with operators in other countries to offer UBR along with other network technologies developed by the company.

UBR uses unlicensed Wi-Fi spectrum to provide broadband connectivity between network sites and homes, giving operators another option for the last mile.

UBR Helps Jio Reach Homes Beyond Fibre

Jio has built its broadband network around fibre-to-the-home, while also using fixed wireless access (FWA) to connect customers where fibre is not readily available.

The company has around 27 million home broadband customers and about 1.3 million route kilometres of fibre. UBR is being used to cover the gaps where extending the fibre network is less practical.

Around 6.5 million Jio customers are already using UBR-based connectivity, according to people familiar with the matter. The technology uses the 5 GHz unlicensed band. This allows Jio to avoid using licensed 5G spectrum for fixed broadband connections.

Why Jio Is Looking At Overseas Markets

UBR could be useful in markets where broadband networks have limited fibre coverage or where the cost of extending wired infrastructure is high.

Neil Shah, vice president at Counterpoint Research, said the technology could have applications in rural markets across Africa, Southeast Asia and Australia, provided local regulations allow the required use of the 5 GHz band and the location offers suitable line-of-sight conditions.

The economics of the technology could also make it attractive to telecom operators looking to connect more homes without making the same level of investment required for fibre deployment.

Jio Expands Its Technology Business

The overseas push is part of Jio's broader effort to sell technology developed for its own network to other telecom operators. Alongside UBR-based fixed wireless access, the company has built capabilities in 5G core networks, network management software and AI-based automation tools.

Ashwinder Sethi, partner at Analysys Mason, said Jio's use of UBR for FWA allows the company to preserve licensed 5G spectrum such as the C-band for enhanced mobile broadband services on smartphones.

Jio Platforms IPO Plans

Jio Platforms is also preparing for a proposed stock market listing. The company is targeting a 21-23 October window for its initial public offering (IPO), with the anchor book likely to open on 19 October and the listing expected on 28 October, subject to market conditions.

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