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Business·2 min read

Jio Talks to Comcast and Charter on Licensing UBR Broadband

Jio Platforms has held talks with US cable giants Comcast and Charter about licensing its UBR wireless broadband technology in return for potential equity stakes.

Rooftop wireless transmitter beaming broadband internet to a residential building, illustrating Jio's UBR technology.
Image: Inc42 Media
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Jio Platforms, the recently listed telecom and digital arm of Reliance Industries, has held discussions with US cable operators Comcast and Charter Communications about licensing its wireless broadband technology. The talks reportedly involve potential equity stakes in exchange for the licence, though no timeline for a deal has been set.

The discussions are part of Jio's plan to sell its proprietary unlicensed band radio (UBR) technology to foreign operators rather than build networks abroad. The company is targeting 10-15 global partners. Jio also spoke with South Africa's MTN Group, but those talks collapsed after the two sides could not agree on valuation and certain licensing issues.

How UBR works

UBR runs on free, unlicensed Wi-Fi frequencies. Transmitters on nearby towers or rooftops beam internet to receivers fitted on buildings, so operators do not need to lay cables to individual homes or depend on licensed mobile spectrum. Reliance has described the approach as a global first.

Why the US matters

A deal with Comcast or Charter would give Jio a route into the US residential broadband market, where cable operators are losing customers to fibre and fixed wireless rivals. Comcast had about 28.3 million residential broadband customers at the end of September, while Charter had roughly 29.4 million internet customers in June.

The talks follow Jio's stock market debut last month after a $3.2 billion IPO, when shares listed at a 21.36% premium to the ₹1,119 issue price. For the second quarter of FY27, Jio reported a net profit of ₹8,387 crore, up 13.7% year on year and 8% from the previous quarter.

On the earnings call, Managing Director Akash Ambani said the company wants to take UBR to both developed and developing markets but will be selective about where it expands. Highlighting the US opportunity, he said: "We want to be a technology-led business there."

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Tags:jio platformscomcastcharter communicationsubrbroadbandreliance

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