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Jio Platforms Launches Virtual Desktop Service to Turn Millions of TVs Into PCs
July 11, 2025
Jio Platforms, the digital division of Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries, has introduced JioPC, a virtual desktop service aimed at set-top box users. This initiative by Reliance’s chairman Mukesh Ambani hopes to convert millions of TVs across India—the world’s most populous country—into functional PCs.
JioPC offers a cloud-based PC experience accessible through Jio’s set-top box, which is either bundled free with the company’s home broadband service or can be bought separately for ₹5,499 (~$64). Currently available in free trial with a waitlist, users can connect a keyboard and mouse to their TV and log in once invited.
The service has some current limitations:
No support yet for external peripherals like cameras or printers.
It includes the open-source LibreOffice suite pre-installed.
Microsoft Office apps are accessible only through a browser, not natively.
Industry experts see promise in Ambani’s move. Tarun Pathak, research director at Counterpoint, told TechCrunch that JioPC could significantly grow Jio’s user base, which already numbers over 488 million.
Notably, around 70% of Indian households own a TV, but only 15% have a PC. JioPC aims to leverage this gap, though Pathak notes the challenge: “You need to convince people that you can still use a PC on your TV using the set-top box.”
According to government data, India’s active pay-TV set-top box user base is nearly 57 million. However, the traditional direct-to-home (DTH) TV market is shrinking by 8% year-over-year, as more consumers shift to internet-based services.
Prabhu Ram, VP at CyberMedia Research (CMR), sees potential in JioPC to onboard users from underpenetrated rural and low-income segments. He cautions, however, that success depends on addressing connectivity issues, digital literacy, and scaling beyond early adopters to underserved communities.
India’s PC market grew over 8% year-over-year in Q1 2025, reaching 3.3 million units and marking seven consecutive quarters of growth, per IDC. Yet PC penetration remains relatively low compared to markets like the U.S. and China, largely due to limited disposable income and the prevalence of smartphones as primary computing devices.
Pathak highlighted that for JioPC to attract potential PC users, Jio will need partnerships with app developers and productivity solution providers, ensuring a rich ecosystem of apps to make the service truly valuable.
While virtual desktop services have long targeted enterprise customers—offered by Microsoft and other cloud providers—Jio’s launch marks a significant consumer-focused move in this space.
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