India's telecom price war threatens to hold up 5G investments

Reliance Jio's entry has plunged data prices to just 5% of previous level

20211022N Jio sales reps

Reliance Jio's arrival triggered a price war in India's wireless market. © Reuters

RYOSUKE HANADA, Nikkei staff writer

MUMBAI -- The war of attrition brought by billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries to the Indian telecommunications market looks set to reach a new intensity, threatening rivals' ability to fund investments in 5G networks and other infrastructure.

"It is my promise that JioPhone Next will be among the most affordable smartphones not just in India, but globally," Ambani said in June, touting the device the group's telecom arm Reliance Jio Infocomm is developing in collaboration with Google.

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