iWorld
India’s jio wins “Best Mobile Operator Service for Consumers” at Global Mobile Awards 2018
MUMBAI: Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd. (Jio) announced today that along with its technology partner Cisco, Jio has won the “Best Mobile Operator Service for Consumers” award at the prestigious Global Mobile (GloMo) Awards 2018 at Mobile World Congress (MWC). In addition, the company’s JioTV app won in the ‘Best Mobile Video Content’ category for JioTV enabling Jio Digital Life.
The GSMA’s Global Mobile Awards (The GLOMO Awards) recognise and celebrate all contributions made to the evolving and developing mobile industry globally. Considered the Oscars of mobile industry, The GLOMO Awards are awarded for innovation and contribution across categories ranging from devices, technologies and applications to health, education and wearable technologies.
Jio’s disruptive entry and relentless work in turning India into a digitally empowered nation by providing a nationwide 4G network, affordable data and digital services, and innovative technical and commercial approaches have been recognized on the global stage with this prestigious award.
This would not have been possible without the commitment and active involvement of the Ministry and Department of Telecommunications which created the right platform and framework for operators to differentiate and innovate for delivering inclusive value to all of India.
“It is a matter of national pride that an innovative new mobile service from India has been recognized at the most prestigious global platform,” said Mr. Manoj Sinha, India’s Minister of Communications. “We are particularly satisfied that India is being propelled to global digital leadership with this.” Mr. Sinha has been leading the Indian delegation at MWC representing and promoting India’s new global digital leadership initiatives.
“I am pleased that India’s efforts to harness technology and digital platforms to bring inclusion and progress across the length and breadth of India is now a reality,” said Ms. Aruna Sundararajan, India’s Telecom Secretary, who is also present at MWC. “We are happy that the world acknowledges India’s technology leadership and hope it will inspire many more leading tech companies and innovators to join the digital India mission as we march towards 5G.”
Jio’s comprehensive and innovative offerings across both urban and rural India transformed data consumption patterns in a very short time and turned India into the largest user of mobile data globally. Through Jio, millions of Indians were able to embrace a digital lifestyle for the first time. Jio rapidly expanded its subscriber base to over 160 million by December 2017, within 16 months of launch.
Cisco has been a partner in Jio’s broadband buildout. “We are honored to win the ‘Best Mobile Operator Service for Consumers’ award with Reliance Jio for Jio Mobile Broadband and Digital Services,” said Mr. Chuck Robbins, Chairman and CEO Cisco Systems.
“We are excited to have received this distinguished global recognition in joint effort with Cisco, this is truly a win for India” said Mr. Mathew Oommen, President of Jio. “We are committed to continuous innovation and ongoing leadership in the digital revolution in India.”
e-commerce
ONDC names Vibhor Jain MD and CEO; Rohit Lohia joins as CBO, Manoj Thakur as CTO
Leadership formalised as open commerce network sharpens focus on scale and user value
The Open Network for Digital Commerce has formalised Vibhor Jain as managing director and chief executive officer, cementing a leadership transition at India’s ambitious open commerce platform as it pushes for scale and relevance.
Jain, who had been serving as acting chief executive officer since April last year following the exit of Thampy Koshy, steps into the role with effect from 7th April , according to a report by The Economic Times. He previously served as chief operating officer at the government-backed network, which enables buyers and sellers to transact across applications through an open, interoperable system.
Setting out his strategy, Jain underscored the network’s differentiated architecture. “Going forward, we are concentrating on what open, interoperable infrastructure can uniquely enable, things that no single platform has the incentive or the architecture to do,” he said.
He added that the immediate priority is to widen ONDC’s impact across user cohorts often underserved by platform-led commerce. “My priority is to deepen the value ONDC creates for the people it exists to serve: kisaans, karigars, kiranas, gig workers, first-time investors, and daily commuters across India,” he said.
Jain also flagged leadership reinforcement within the organisation, noting that ONDC has “a strong and exciting leadership team in place”, with Rohit Lohia joining as chief business officer and Manoj Thakur as chief technology officer.
With over 18 years of experience spanning entrepreneurship and consulting, Jain brings a track record in technology-led, large-scale transformation programmes and internet businesses. At ONDC, he has been closely involved in shaping strategy and operations as the network seeks to move digital commerce away from platform-centric models towards an open network approach.
Before ONDC, Jain worked with JUMO, where he helped set up the fintech firm’s India operations, and led the India launch of Mobike, handling regulatory, policy and operational aspects of its market entry. Earlier, he co-founded Atlanta Healthcare, an air quality management company, and spent more than a decade in consulting roles at Andersen and EY, advising governments on public policy and technology-driven reforms, including work on the Aadhaar programme and tax systems.
The mandate is clear but the path is complex. As ONDC attempts to rewrite the rules of digital commerce, Jain now carries the burden of turning open architecture into mass adoption, in a market still dominated by platform power.
