How does Reliance Jio affect the Indian gaming industry?

The launch of Reliance Jio in September 2016 took the entire Indian mobile industry by storm. The highly competitive pricing structure of packages offering free data, calls and SMSs created a market that spread across the length and breadth of the country. Having the most number of youngsters when compared to other countries, India proved to be a promising market for Reliance’s 4G plans. Internet usage increased overnight and continues to be at a high from the time the Jio network was introduced.

In addition to the plans, Reliance Communications also launched mobile devices at nominal charges. These smartphones were available to users for a refundable security deposit of Rs 1500 and this resulted in a frenzy that increased the ROI for Reliance by huge margins.

Gaming and Jio

Accessibility to internet at the tip of their fingers and free data gave rise to a substantial rise in the number of people playing games, and this continues to go up with every passing day. There are several sources where premium games and relevant mobile apps can be downloaded and with the free data packages introduced by Reliance Jio, the percentage of gamers reportedly increased by more than 50% in just a few months since September 2016. The Indian subcontinent has emerged as one of the top countries where users play online games, thanks to Reliance Communications.

In the last 3 years, there have been significant announcements being made by the Company and plans for a couple of new products/services have come to the forefront. Let us now discuss them in detail in the following lines:

Jio GigaFiber

A year after the Reliance Jio 4G network was introduced, the Company announced their upcoming offering to India - the Jio GigaFiber. With the former, it was able to help users access the internet on the go. With the latter, they aim to bring high-speed internet to homes. This broadband service is all set to roll-out on the 5th of September, 2019. In the first stage, the services are being made available to a few select cities. Housing societies have to register for the connections upon paying a security deposit.

Plan details - The package starts at Rs 700 per month with a 100 MBPS speed. The highest is at 1GBPS for Rs 10,000. The plan is to offer landline phone service as a benefit. Users need to have a device and Reliance Communications will provide them with a phone number for making free calls. There is also a free HD TV or 4K TV that is being offered to users. Television services, conference calls’ facility, international calls and all the latest movies are included in the subscriptions. A 4K set-top box for people who opt for the high-end plans is also one of the major attractions. In addition to the pre-paid plans, there are post-paid plans that are being offered, too. By offering high speed internet, they are planning to penetrate the telecommunications market with a bang.

Gaming: People who opt for such a connection can play mobile, Console or PC games without having to worry about the internet usage. Also, the absence of lag time will improve the overall gaming experience. All those who prefer cloud gaming can make the most of the Jio GigaFiber plans for uninterrupted entertainment.

Jio Set-top Box

The Jio Set-top Box is a gaming console that is compatible with all game controllers. Anyone who has the GigaFiber connection is eligible for the set-top box. It can be connected with mobile devices as well. The Company has entered into a collaboration with some of the top game development companies in order to offer players with an immersive gaming experience. With 4K resolution and a zero latency promise, this is one of the most anticipated products amongst the gamers spread across India.

According to recent studies, the percentage of gamers is predicted to increase by 20% in the next 4 years. With Reliance Communications’ foray into the gaming realm, there is a high chance that these predictions will come true. High-speed internet connections at extremely competitive prices and added freebies make it one of the better choices for users.

Conclusion

Though there are many similar products like the Jio Set-top Box from reputable companies, what makes the latter remarkable is the fact that it promises to offer a single solution to all gaming needs. Whether it is mobile, Console or PC gaming, users are given multiple options to pursue games without any data limitations and get connected with the global gaming community in an easier manner.

There are many game developers who are looking forward to bank on the services being offered by the Jio GigaFiber with regards to the internet and the gaming console features. These are believed to offer unlimited opportunities for Indian games, whether social or online and is bound to change the face of the Indian gaming industry towards the better.