India is one of the largest smartphone markets in the world. While it is a key market for various brands from across the globe, Chinese OEMs have seemingly dominated the market in recent years. Now, Reliance Jio is seeking to disrupt the market share with an Android device that costs just 50 US Dollars.
According to a TimesofIndia report, Reliance has asked local suppliers to bump the production capacity in India to raise smartphone production to 200 million units over the next two years. Sources close to the matter revealed this information and even stated that this would boost India’s technology ambitions and raise the competition against major Chinese players like Xiaomi.
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Reliance Jio is currently in talks with various domestic assemblers to make an extremely affordable version of its Jio Phone that runs on Google‘s Android and costs just 4,000 INR (roughly 54 US Dollars). If this device launches, it would be one of the cheapest handset offerings in the market and will also stand with Jio’s known low cost wireless telecom data plans. For those unaware, Jio is a leading telecom operator in the Southeast Asian country and is also actively working to develop 5G networking as well.
Mukesh Ambani, Reliance Chairman, is apparently seeking to reform the country’s smartphone industry in a manner similar to when he reshaped the telecom services. When Reliance Jio first launched as a wireless data plan provider, it had a simple strategy of offering great deals at very aggressive pricing, which was extremely successful in India. Now that the company also has the government’s support, the billionaire is also aiming at building more domestic manufacturing sites that would likely also benefit other local brands like Karbonn Mobiles, Lava International, Dixon Technologies, and others.
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