Digital India: Google announces first investment of $4.5 billion in Reliance Jio

New Delhi : Google had recently announced that they will be pushing investments in India to make it a better digitally connected nation; on the same lines, Google CEO Sundar Pichai on Thursday announced that the company will be releasing its first investment of $4.5 billion to Reliance Jio to allow them to increase digital connectivity in the nation.

"Everyone should have access to the internet. Proud to partner with Reliance Jio to increase access for the hundreds of millions in India who don’t own a smartphone with our 1st investment of $4.5B from the Google For India Digitization Fund," said Sundar Pichai, Google CEO.

Google and Reliance Jio have partnered to make entry-level 4G and 5G smartphones.

"Google and Jio are partnering to build an Operating System that could power a value-engineered, entry-level 4G/5G smartphone. The Jio-Google partnership is determined to make India 2G-mukt," said Mukesh Ambani at company’s 43rd AGM.

Earlier, Sundar Pichai had announced that their investment will primarily focus on the four areas:

First, enabling affordable access and information for every Indian in their own language, whether it’s Hindi, Tamil, Punjabi or any other

Second, building new products and services that are deeply relevant to India’s unique needs

Third, empowering businesses as they continue or embark on their digital transformation

Fourth, leveraging technology and AI for social good, in areas like health, education, and agriculture