Isha Ambani recalls how a failed college assignment led to the idea for Jio: ‘The internet did not work’
A failed attempt to submit a college assignment online in Mumbai sparked a conversation that eventually led to the idea behind Reliance Jio, Isha Ambani recalled on Thursday.
Speaking at a press conference a day after Jio Platforms filed its Red Herring Prospectus (RHP) for its initial public offering (IPO), Isha Ambani recounted how an internet connectivity problem during a visit to India with her brother, Akash Ambani, prompted them to question the country's digital infrastructure.
"Akash and I were in college in the States, and we were back home in Bombay for a break," she said.
Quick answers to key questions
•5 QUESTIONS
1
What inspired Isha and Akash Ambani to develop the idea behind Jio?⌵Isha Ambani recalled that she could not submit a college assignment online during a visit to Mumbai because the internet was not working. The experience prompted the siblings to question why India did not have the connectivity they had experienced in the US.
2
When did Jio launch, and how did it aim to expand internet access?⌵Reliance Jio began commercial operations in September 2016. It entered the market with introductory free voice and data services, helping expand access to mobile internet.
3
How did Jio’s entry affect mobile data prices and usage in India?⌵Jio’s low-cost data offers triggered a price war and contributed to a sharp fall in data costs. Monthly mobile data consumption in India rose from about 20 crore GB before its launch to nearly 370 crore GB by 2018.
4
What are the price band and issue size of the Jio Platforms IPO?⌵The IPO price band is ₹1,065– ₹1,119 per share. The offering comprises up to 27 crore fresh equity shares and is scheduled to open on October 21 and close on October 23.
5
How does Jio Platforms plan to use its IPO proceeds?⌵Jio Platforms plans to use part of the proceeds to repay borrowings at its telecom subsidiary, Reliance Jio Infocomm. The remaining funds are intended for general corporate purposes.
"I tried to submit an assignment, but unfortunately, the internet did not work and I couldn't submit it," Ambani recalled.
The experience led the siblings to discuss the difference in internet connectivity between India and the US.
"Why was it that we didn't have the same type of connectivity that we enjoyed in the West?" she said.
According to Ambani, Akash believed the solution lay in building a digital technology platform company that could address India's connectivity needs.
The conversation preceded the commercial launch of Reliance Jio in September 2016. The telecom operator entered the market with introductory free voice and data services, expanding access to mobile internet across the country.
Nearly a decade after Jio's commercial launch, Jio Platforms, the digital and telecom subsidiary of Reliance Industries, is preparing to enter the public markets.
The company filed its RHP on October 14, setting a price band of ₹1,065-1,119 per share for an IPO comprising up to 27 crore fresh equity shares. The issue is scheduled to open on October 21 and close on October 23, with anchor investor bidding set for October 19.
The offering could raise up to ₹30,213 crore. Jio Platforms plans to use part of the proceeds to repay borrowings at its telecom subsidiary, Reliance Jio Infocomm, while the remaining funds will be allocated to general corporate purposes.
Reliance had announced plans to list Jio Platforms at its 2025 annual general meeting. The company subsequently filed its draft prospectus on June 19, 2026, and received the Securities and Exchange Board of India's (Sebi) observation letter on August 28.
Speaking about Reliance's approach to building businesses, Ambani outlined three principles: long-term planning, scale and execution.
She said the conglomerate evaluates businesses over decades rather than focusing solely on immediate opportunities. Scale, she explained, involves determining what is required to fundamentally change an industry's economics.
Ambani also highlighted the importance of financial discipline, recalling Mukesh Ambani's 2019 commitment to make Reliance Industries net debt-free by March 2021.
Reliance announced in June 2020 that it had achieved the target ahead of schedule, following investments in Jio Platforms and a rights issue.
Referring to her grandfather, Dhirubhai Ambani, who took Reliance Industries public in 1977, Isha Ambani said the family's third generation remained it to the founder's vision of enabling Indians to participate in the country's economic growth.
Anjali Thakur is a Senior Assistant Editor with Mint, reporting on trending news, entertainment and health, with a focus on stories driving digital conversations. Her work involves spotting early signals across news cycles and social media, sharpening stories for SEO and Google Discover, and mentoring young editors in digital-first newsroom practices. She is known for turning fast-moving developments—whether news-driven or culture-led—into clear, tightly edited journalism without compromising editorial rigour.<br><br> Before joining Mint, she was Deputy News Editor at NDTV.com, where she led the Trending section and covered viral news, breaking developments and human-interest stories. She has also worked as Chief Sub-Editor at India.com (Zee Media) and as Senior Correspondent with Exchange4media and Hindustan Times’ HT City, reporting on media, advertising, entertainment, health, lifestyle and popular culture.<br><br> Anjali holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Miranda House, and is currently pursuing an MBA, strengthening her understanding of business strategy and digital media economics. Her writing balances newsroom discipline with a clear instinct for what resonates with readers.
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