Jio Platforms is looking to expand internationally through an asset-light model that would allow it to monetise its proprietary telecom technology by partnering with operators across global markets, Chairman Akash Ambani said on Thursday. Speaking at the company's IPO press conference, Ambani said Jio intends to position itself as a managed services partner rather than a network builder or conventional software services provider, leveraging technology developed and deployed at scale in India.
Ambani said Jio's proprietary end-to-end technology stack, developed and operated in one of the world's most complex telecom markets, provides an opportunity to partner with operators in both developed and developing countries. "What we see is the end-to-end technologies that we've created, deployed, and operated gives us an ability to partner with telecom partners across the world," Ambani said, adding that Jio intends to pursue this opportunity in a capital expenditure-light manner.
He said the company's preferred international expansion model would involve becoming a managed services partner, helping telecom operators deploy and operate technology to support their growth, rather than acting merely as a network builder or software services provider.
Jio would carefully select international partners based on the size of the market opportunity and the potential contribution to its balance sheet, Ambani said. He described the strategy as a way to monetise the company's technology investments over the coming years.
Jio's experience in deploying 5G infrastructure across India would provide a foundation for offering similar technology capabilities to international telecom operators, he said.