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In a historic moment for the global telecom industry, India’s Reliance Jio has achieved what was once thought impossible — overtaking China Mobile to become the world’s largest telecom operator by subscribers. For years, China dominated the global technology and telecom sector, but for the first time, it has been dethroned by an Indian company.
The journey of Reliance Jio began in 2016 when Mukesh Ambani launched a revolutionary telecom service that transformed the Indian market. Jio took internet access out of the realm of luxury and made it a basic right for every household. Back then, few would have imagined that in just eight years, Jio would rise to surpass China’s telecom giants and claim the number one spot globally.
According to the latest report, Reliance Jio now boasts a total subscriber base of 488 million, or 48.8 crore users. Out of these, a staggering 190 million (19 crore) are using Jio’s 5G services. This rapid 5G adoption and unmatched coverage have left China’s telecom giants stunned. Until recently, the top position was held by China Mobile, the state-owned telecom behemoth with a subscriber base larger than Jio’s. But this year, Jio has broken through that wall, pushing China Mobile to second place and China Telecom to third.
For China, this is more than just a corporate defeat; it is a symbolic and psychological setback. The Chinese telecom industry has long dominated the global network infrastructure, with companies like Huawei and ZTE leading in equipment manufacturing and 5G technology. However, Jio’s meteoric rise proves that global leadership in telecom is not solely about building equipment, but also about adopting the right business model and making timely strategic decisions.
Unlike many companies that focus only on their domestic markets, Jio has innovated aggressively across multiple domains — from 5G to fiber broadband, Bolt devices, and AI-based network management. These innovations have set new benchmarks for the world. While China’s 5G rollout has been relatively slow, India, under Jio’s leadership, has achieved nationwide 5G coverage in record time, and that too led by a private enterprise.
It’s worth remembering that this is the same Jio that disrupted India’s telecom sector years ago by offering free 4G services, bringing millions of Indians online for the first time. Today, Jio is not only a household name in India but also a global headline-maker, with international media outlets like Bloomberg, Financial Times, and Nikkei Asia reporting its landmark achievement.
The big question now is — can Jio maintain its number one position? The company has already set its sights on expanding into international markets such as Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. If successful, this expansion would not only cement Jio’s position as the largest telecom operator in the world but could also make it a dominant force in the global internet ecosystem.
This victory serves as a powerful reminder that when India sets its mind to something, no barrier — not even the Great Wall of China — can stand for long. Reliance Jio’s success marks a shift in global technology leadership, showing that India is no longer just a developing nation but an emerging technological superpower.
China is now watching, and the world is learning, that India’s digital strength can no longer be underestimated. The next question is: what should Jio’s next target be — continued dominance in telecom, or a complete takeover of the digital world?
