![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Chairman-Reliance-Industries-Mukesh-Ambani-696x392.jpg\" "\\"Chairman,")
Indian multi-billionaire Mukesh Ambani has announced a $25bn (\u00a321.3bn) plan to launch 5G mobile internet services in the country within two months.<\/p>\n
Mr Ambani, who heads the telecoms-to-retail group Reliance Industries, says the high-speed network will be introduced first in major cities, including New Delhi and Mumbai.<\/p>\n
He said it will then be expanded to the rest of India by December 2023.<\/p>\n
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The company is also working with Google to develop a budget 5G smartphone.<\/p>\n
Speaking on Monday at Reliance\u2019s annual general meeting, Mr Ambani said that once the firm\u2019s 5G network is fully operational it would be the biggest in the world.<\/p>\n
The service will be rolled out through Reliance\u2019s subsidiary Jio \u2013 which is India\u2019s largest mobile carrier.<\/p>\n
Mr Ambani also said that Reliance was working with US technology giant Google to develop an \u201cultra-affordable\u201d 5G smartphone, without giving further details on its price or planned launch date.<\/p>\n
The cheapest 5G-ready smartphones in India currently cost around $150.<\/p>\n
The announcements came as the battle for domination in India\u2019s digital future is heating up.<\/p>\n
Earlier this month, the Indian government\u00a0concluded a record $19bn auction for airwaves, including 5G airwaves, where Jio emerged as the top buyer.<\/p>\n
It also drew bids from other major players Vodafone Idea and Bharti Airtel \u2013 and a fourth new entrant, Adani Data Networks.<\/p>\n
The fifth generation of high-speed mobile internet \u2013 or 5G \u2013 supports emerging technologies such as driverless cars and artificial intelligence.<\/p>\n
It seen to be central to India\u2019s plans to transform the country into a $1tn digital economy.<\/p>\n
In May, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that 5G would \u201cnot only accelerate internet speed but also boost development and employment.\u201d<\/p>\n
During the wide-ranging address to investors, Mr Ambani also laid out a succession plan for his business empire.<\/p>\n
The 65-year-old confirmed that his daughter Isha would head Reliance\u2019s retail ventures, while his youngest son Anant would join its new energy business.<\/p>\n
His eldest son Akash was appointed as the chairman of Jio in June this year.<\/p>\n
With an estimated net worth of $91.9bn, Mr Ambani is the eleventh richest person in the world and the second richest person in Asia, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.<\/p>\n
His late father Dhirubhai Ambani founded a textiles manufacturer that would eventually become Reliance Industries.<\/p>\n
It is now India\u2019s largest conglomerate by market value, with businesses including petrochemicals, oil and gas, telecoms and retail.<\/p>\n
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