4G Connectivity Will Grow Faster Than 2G in India: Mukesh Ambani

The Reliance Industries Chairman was attending the Indian Mobile Congress in Delhi.

Mukesh Ambani speaking at the Indian Mobile Congress. 

(Photo: BloombergQuint)

India will lead the fourth industrial revolution with the telecom and IT industry coming together to lay the foundation of empowering 1.3 billion Indians, Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani said here on Wednesday.

According to him, 4G coverage will take over 2G connectivity in India in the next 12 months.

Speaking at the first-ever 'India Mobile Congress 2017' in Delhi, Ambani said that the Indian economy has grown unparalleled. In the next 10 years it is likely to reach $7 trillion from the current $2 and a half trillion where, the Indian telecom and IT industry will play a key role in creating digital transformation.

Data is the new oxygen, new oil for 1.3 billion Indians. Our aim is to not only provide high-speed data at affordable prices but also affordable smartphones to help people connect better with the Internet

Mukesh Ambani, Chairman, Reliance Industries

India has leapfrogged from a lowly 155th in mobile broadband penetration to being the world's largest mobile data consuming nation in just one year, according to Ambani.

He attributes this jump largely to the launch of Reliance Jio which, during the promotional phase, offered unlimited free data and thereafter, offered data at a throwaway price.

India had missed out on the first three global industrial revolutions of mechanisation, mass production and automation, Ambani said, but has the opportunity to lead in the fourth industrial revolution fueled by connectivity, data and artificial intelligence.