What to know

  • Mukesh Ambani, India’s richest man, has announced a plan to turn every TV in India into a personal computer.
  • The initiative aims to bridge the digital divide and empower millions of households with affordable computing.
  • Reliance, Ambani’s company, will leverage its vast telecom and tech infrastructure for this rollout.
  • The plan could reshape how Indians access education, work, and entertainment from their living rooms.

If you’ve ever wondered what it would take to put a computer in every Indian home, Mukesh Ambani thinks he has the answer—and it’s already sitting in your living room. On Friday, Ambani, the chairman of Reliance Industries and India’s wealthiest individual, unveiled a sweeping new initiative to transform every television in the country into a fully functional personal computer.

The announcement, made at a high-profile tech event, signals Reliance’s next big push to bridge India’s digital divide. Ambani’s vision is simple but ambitious: use the country’s more than 200 million television sets as a springboard to bring affordable computing power to millions who have never owned a PC. Called JioPC, the plan centers on a new device—likely a compact, affordable set-top box or dongle—that plugs into any TV and instantly turns it into a smart, internet-connected computer.

Reliance is expected to leverage its massive telecom arm, Jio, which already boasts hundreds of millions of subscribers and a sprawling fiber network. By bundling high-speed internet with the new TV-to-PC device, Reliance aims to make digital access seamless for families in both cities and rural areas. The JioPC will reportedly support essential productivity apps, educational platforms, and even video conferencing, opening up new possibilities for remote work, online learning, and digital entertainment.

Ambani emphasized that the move isn’t just about technology—it’s about empowerment. With the majority of Indian households still lacking a traditional computer, this initiative could be a game-changer for students, small business owners, and anyone looking to participate in the digital economy. The company is also expected to offer the device at a price point accessible to the masses, continuing Reliance’s tradition of disruptive pricing in the Indian market.

While details on the exact launch date and technical specifications are still under wraps, industry watchers are already calling this one of the most significant tech announcements of the year. If successful, Ambani’s plan could reshape how millions of Indians access information, work, and entertainment—right from their living rooms.