Reliance Jio's highly anticipated initial public offering (IPO) is facing delays and is unlikely to occur this year, according to sources familiar with the company's plans. This decision comes as the Indian telecom giant, led by Mukesh Ambani, prioritizes boosting revenue, expanding its subscriber base, and further developing its digital service offerings. The company aims to achieve a more mature business and higher valuation before proceeding with the stock market launch.
Jio's decision to postpone the IPO, initially expected in 2025, reflects a strategic move to enhance its market position and financial profile. Valued by analysts at over $100 billion, Jio seeks to solidify its standing in the telecom sector while accelerating growth across its app development, connected devices, and AI-driven business solutions. The company's core telecom arm, Reliance Jio Infocomm, currently contributes nearly 80% of Jio Platforms' annual revenue of $17.6 billion.
Several factors contribute to this strategic delay. Jio wants to grow revenue and increase its subscriber base for its telecom business. As of March 2025, Jio had over 488 million subscribers. The company also seeks to expand its digital services offerings to increase its valuation before listing in Mumbai. The IPO was expected to be India's largest to date, with a valuation of over $100 billion.
Furthermore, Reliance Jio is set to compete with Elon Musk's Starlink internet service in India. Jio, backed by investors like Google and Meta, has also partnered with Nvidia to develop AI infrastructure. These ventures into AI and satellite internet services highlight Jio's ambition to diversify its digital portfolio and capture new growth opportunities.
The postponement also reflects a broader trend of delayed IPOs within the Reliance group. The listing of Reliance Retail is also expected to be delayed until 2027 or 2028 due to operational challenges, including less-than-ideal earnings per square foot.
While Reliance has not officially commented on the delay, plans for the IPO have been in public discussion since 2019 when Mukesh Ambani announced that both Jio and Reliance Retail would move towards listings within five years. Despite the delay, analysts remain optimistic about Reliance Jio's long-term prospects, with some valuing the company as high as $136 billion. However, IIFL Capital has cut Jio's core profit estimate for FY26 by 3% due to higher costs and lower-than-expected gains from the next tariff hike, also reducing its valuation estimate from $117 billion to $111 billion.
The Indian telecom sector is undergoing significant transformation, driven by government initiatives and a vision to establish India as a global hub for telecom infrastructure and mobile device manufacturing. The Union Budget 2025-26 strengthens India's telecom ecosystem, fostering affordability, infrastructure development, and self-reliance while paving the way for next-generation digital services.
As Reliance Jio continues to solidify its market position and expand its digital offerings, the timing of its IPO remains uncertain. While a 2025 listing appears unlikely, the company's strategic focus on growth and value creation suggests that an IPO remains a future possibility.
