Jio Platforms, led by Mukesh Ambani, is reported to be in discussions with US cable operators Comcast and Charter Communications to license Jio’s wireless broadband technology, potentially in exchange for equity stakes. Reuters-cited reporting says Jio also discussed a possible partnership with South Africa’s MTN Group. Negotiations with the US firms reportedly end without a clear timeline, with disagreements centered on valuation and licensing terms.
The technology Jio is seeking to license is described as using unlicensed Wi-Fi frequencies to deliver high-speed internet, using transmitters on towers or rooftops and receivers on buildings to reduce the need for traditional cable networks. Sources also say the talks follow Jio’s recent Mumbai listing after a record IPO, and are part of a broader effort to secure international partners for its “unlicensed band radio” platform, which Jio has positioned as a global first. Other outlets frame the potential partnerships primarily as a way for Jio to expand overseas without building networks abroad, while still noting that discussions are not concluded.
