An internet connection that failed when Isha Ambani needed to submit a college assignment prompted a conversation about India’s connectivity gap. Recalling the incident at Jio’s IPO media meet, Isha described how an experience during a visit home led to a discussion with Akash Ambani about why India lacked the connectivity they experienced abroad.

The incident took place around 2009–2010, when Isha and Akash were studying in the United States.

They were back home in Mumbai for a break, and Isha had an assignment to submit online. However, the internet was down, leaving her unable to submit it.

What followed was a conversation about why India should be left behind and why connectivity at home was different from what they experienced in the West.

According to Isha, Akash firmly believed that the answer was to create a digital technology platform company.

Jio launched in 2016. Looking back on that journey in 2026, Isha presented the incident as part of the story of Jio’s birth, before explaining the principles Reliance follows when building businesses.

Isha identified a long-term perspective as the first principle. She said Reliance backs ideas by considering what will be needed decades into the future, rather than building only for today or tomorrow.

The second principle is scale. According to Isha, the question is what level of scale is required to fundamentally change the economics of the industry in which the company operates.

Execution was the third principle she highlighted. Describing Reliance as a deeply technical company, Isha said that execution is embedded across the organization, enabling it to meet its goals and remain committed to its mission.

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