Reliance to List Jio by 2026, Launches AI Subsidiary and Mega Partnerships

Mumbai: Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL), India’s most valuable company, on Friday unveiled a series of major announcements at its 48th annual general meeting (AGM), including plans to take Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd public by the first half of 2026, the launch of a dedicated artificial intelligence subsidiary, and high-profile partnerships with global technology leaders.

RIL Chairman Mukesh Ambani confirmed that the telecom giant, which has over 500 million subscribers, is preparing to file for its initial public offering (IPO), unlocking significant value for RIL’s 4.4 million shareholders. “We are aiming to list Jio by the first half of 2026, subject to all necessary approvals,” Ambani said. The IPO would mark a milestone for Jio, which launched commercially in 2016 and has since transformed India’s telecom sector through affordable data and free voice services, fuelling the growth of digital payments and startups.

Ambani outlined an ambitious roadmap for Jio, which has executed the world’s fastest 5G rollout. Plans include connecting every Indian household with broadband, expanding into smart homes, digitising enterprises and small businesses, and driving an “AI Everywhere for Everyone” mission.

To support this vision, Ambani announced the creation of a wholly owned subsidiary, Reliance Intelligence, which will focus on AI infrastructure, services, partnerships, and talent development. The company will build gigawatt-scale, AI-ready data centres in Jamnagar, powered by clean energy, and develop affordable AI solutions for key sectors such as education, healthcare, and agriculture.

RIL also revealed a new AI joint venture with Meta to deliver sovereign, enterprise-ready AI solutions tailored for India. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the partnership would help bring AI and, eventually, superintelligence to every corner of the country, empowering businesses from startups to large enterprises. Google CEO Sundar Pichai added that a dedicated Jamnagar Cloud region, powered by Reliance’s renewable energy, would accelerate AI adoption across Reliance’s businesses.

Reliance’s media arm also reported record-breaking growth. Akash Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Jio Infocomm, said JioHotstar had become the world’s second-largest streaming platform with 300 million paying subscribers, achieved entirely in India. The company also commands a 34% share of the TV market and is expanding JioStar, its integrated media and entertainment venture, globally. Disney CEO Bob Iger called India one of Disney’s most important markets, citing JioStar’s rapid rise.

Reliance Retail, led by Isha Ambani, reported a 15% rise in its registered customer base to 349 million and processed 1.4 billion transactions in FY25. She said the company is targeting 20% revenue contribution from online channels over the next three years.

These announcements reflect Reliance’s transformation from an oil-to-chemicals conglomerate into a technology-driven consumer powerhouse. Ambani said the moves will unlock value for shareholders and position Reliance as a global leader in AI, telecom, retail, and digital services.