Reliance Pledges ₹10 Trillion for AI Infrastructure Over Seven Years

A New Era for Indian Technology

Reliance Industries has announced a monumental investment of ₹10 trillion, approximately $110 billion, to build a comprehensive artificial intelligence computing infrastructure in India over the next seven years. The announcement was made by Chairman Mukesh Ambani at the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, signaling a significant move to position India as a leader in the global AI race.

This investment underscores a strategic shift among India's largest conglomerates, which are now racing to build the foundational infrastructure for the next wave of technological innovation. The plan aims to address what Ambani described as the primary constraint in AI development today: the scarcity and high cost of computing power.

The Vision for a Sovereign AI

At the core of Reliance's strategy is the goal of achieving technological self-reliance for India. Ambani emphasized that the country "cannot afford to rent intelligence," drawing a parallel to the company's disruptive entry into the telecom market with Jio. Just as Jio democratized mobile data access, the new initiative aims to dramatically reduce the cost of AI services for businesses and consumers across the nation.

The vision is to create a sovereign AI ecosystem that fosters domestic innovation and reduces dependence on foreign technology providers. This involves not only building physical infrastructure but also developing AI capabilities in several Indian languages to ensure widespread adoption and relevance.

Key Components of the Investment

The ₹10 trillion investment will be channeled into several key areas. A major focus is the construction of gigawatt-scale data centers. Reliance has already started building a multi-gigawatt, AI-ready data center park in Jamnagar, Gujarat. The company expects more than 120 megawatts of this capacity to become operational in the second half of 2026.

Beyond centralized data centers, the plan includes establishing a nationwide edge computing network to bring processing power closer to users, reducing latency and improving performance. These infrastructure components will support a new suite of AI services integrated with Reliance's vast Jio telecom platform, which already has a user base of over 500 million.

Powering the AI Dream with Green Energy

A significant competitive advantage for Reliance is its ability to power this energy-intensive infrastructure with its own renewable energy assets. Ambani stated that the AI build-out would be supported by the company's green energy capacity, which includes 10 gigawatts of surplus power from solar projects in Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh. This integration helps control operational costs and aligns with global sustainability goals.

A Competitive and Collaborative Landscape

Reliance's announcement adds to a growing wave of AI-related investments in India. The Adani Group recently outlined its own plans to invest about $100 billion by 2035 to build AI-enabled, renewable-powered data centers. Meanwhile, the Tata Group, through its subsidiary TCS, is partnering with OpenAI to develop about 100 megawatts of AI capacity, with plans to scale it to one gigawatt.

To foster a broad ecosystem, Reliance intends to partner with Indian enterprises, startups, and academic institutions. The goal is to embed AI across various industries, including manufacturing, logistics, agriculture, healthcare, and financial services. This collaborative approach is already visible in Jio's partnership with Google, which offers free Gemini AI Pro access to millions of its users.

Major AI Infrastructure Investments in India

Market Impact and Analysis

This massive capital injection is set to transform India's technology landscape. It marks a decisive move from being a global software services provider to becoming a creator and owner of core AI infrastructure. For Reliance, this venture opens up a new, high-margin revenue stream through 'AI-as-a-Service' offerings for startups, enterprises, and government bodies.

The investment also strengthens the strategic moats around its existing businesses. Reliance Jio can leverage this infrastructure to develop advanced AI-powered applications for its massive user base, while Reliance Retail can optimize its supply chain and personalize customer experiences on an unprecedented scale. The move positions Reliance to capture a significant share of India's burgeoning AI market.

Conclusion

Reliance's ₹10 trillion commitment is a clear declaration of its ambition to lead India's AI revolution. By focusing on sovereign capabilities, green energy integration, and ecosystem partnerships, the company is not just building data centers but is laying the groundwork for the nation's technological future. This strategic push ensures Reliance's relevance for decades to come and solidifies India's position as a critical player in the global AI ecosystem.