Reliance Jio expands cloud PC service across India, giving older computers access to AI

Reliance Jio is offering Indian internet users a way to give ageing computers more powerful capabilities without replacing their hardware. Its JioPC cloud service, first introduced in 2025, is now available as a standalone subscription regardless of a customer’s broadband or telecom provider.

JioPC runs a virtual machine in Jio’s cloud infrastructure and streams it to the user’s computer. Available configurations offer up to eight virtual CPUs, 16 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage. Jio says the service can provide computers as old as eight years with the resources needed for modern applications, including AI services.

Subscriptions start at ₹1,000 for two months. Annual plans cost between ₹4,000 and ₹5,000, depending on the specifications selected.

The service is aimed at a substantial installed base. India had more than 65 million PCs in use in 2025, according to IDC estimates cited by TechCrunch, and that total is projected to approach 69 million by the end of 2026.

Cloud computing, however, ties the experience to the quality of the internet connection. That could limit the service in areas with inconsistent connectivity. Jio has also not said that JioPC includes the dedicated on-device AI accelerators associated with the newest generation of AI PCs. Its proposition is different: extend the life of existing machines by selling computing power as a service instead of requiring consumers to buy new hardware.