Jio Takes Battle To The Skies, Partners With AeroMobile To Offer In-Flight Mobile Services

Reliance Jio on Friday (September 25) launched in-flight call, SMS, data services for its postpaid users travelling abroad, in partnership with UK-based connectivity provider AeroMobile. Jio is the first Indian operator to launch on-board mobile connectivity. 

Jio’s in-flight roaming bundle beginning at INR 499 will offer 250 MB data, 100 minutes of outgoing calls and 100 SMS for one day for Jio customers travelling abroad. The service will be extended to domestic flights as well once the service is available in Indian airspace, Jio said in a statement on Friday. However, incoming calls are not allowed.

Akash Ambani, Director, Jio, said, “JioPostpaid Plus brings with it industry-defining and highest-quality user experience, and through our partnership with AeroMobile we will now offer in-flight roaming services at an attractive price. We are delighted to bring this new service to our customers, who will be able to enjoy seamless, high-quality and secure roaming at 20,000 feet, keeping every JioPostpaid Plus user connected, always.”

The customers who are going to use this in-flight service will get data, SMS and outgoing call facility on 14 partner airlines which include Virgin Atlantic, Swiss, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Euro Wings, Lufthansa, Malindo Air, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, and Alitalia. 

Jio Leads From The Front

Reliance Jio Platforms has recorded INR 2,520 Cr ($336 Mn) net profit in the first quarter of fiscal year 2021, noting a 182.8% hike from INR 891 Cr (nearly $118 Mn at current exchange rate) recorded in Q1 FY2020. 

The Mukesh Ambani-led company’s operating revenues shot up by 33.7% to INR 16,557 Cr in the quarter from INR 12,383 Cr in the same period last year. Reliance’s Jio Platforms value of services has also increased at the same rate from INR 14,593 Cr to INR 19,513 Cr last quarter.

Cementing its position in the market, Reliance Jio is also poised to conduct trials on its own technology and design to launch a locally built next-generation 5G network. As part of its plans to innovate, Reliance Jio GenNext, a startup accelerator of telecom operator Reliance Jio Infocomm’s parent Reliance Industries, has made buyout or investment proposals to companies such as Vihaan Networks, Himachal Futuristic Communications, Tejas Networks, Lekha Wireless, Signalchip, Nivetti, Mymo Wireless and Niral Networks.