Samsung and Reliance Expand Partnership Across AI, 6G, and Semiconductors

Samsung Electronics and Reliance Industries are deepening their decade-long partnership to collaborate on AI data centers, 6G telecommunications, semiconductors, and energy storage systems. The centerpiece is Reliance’s planned $30 billion AI data center in Jamnagar, Gujarat, which will operate at 3 gigawatts potentially the world’s largest by capacity. Samsung Chairman Lee Jae-yong hosted Reliance Chairman Mukesh Ambani in Seoul for high-level talks that included tours of Samsung’s semiconductor campuses and demonstrations of XR technology. The partnership builds on Samsung’s role as Reliance Jio’s exclusive telecom equipment provider since 2012, covering 4G, 5G, and now 6G network infrastructure.

Samsung Electronics and India’s Reliance Industries are taking their 13-year collaboration to new heights with a strategic expansion into artificial intelligence infrastructure, next-generation wireless networks, and advanced semiconductor manufacturing. At the center of discussions between Samsung Chairman Lee Jae-yong and Reliance Chairman Mukesh Ambani is a $30 billion AI data center project that could reshape India’s position in the global AI race.

The November 25, 2025 meeting in Seoul brought together executives from multiple Samsung divisions including Samsung Electronics, Samsung SDI, Samsung C&T, and Samsung E&A to explore cooperation across semiconductors, 6G telecommunications, energy storage systems, and engineering services. Ambani, Asia’s wealthiest individual with a net worth of $116 billion, toured Samsung’s Giheung and Hwaseong semiconductor campuses and experienced the company’s latest Galaxy XR headset and micro RGB display technologies.

What the Samsung-Reliance Partnership Covers

AI Data Centers and Semiconductor Collaboration

The most ambitious element of the partnership centers on Reliance’s planned AI data center in Jamnagar, Gujarat. Samsung is positioned to supply memory chips, foundry services, and related semiconductor technologies for the facility, which Reliance intends to equip with Nvidia AI accelerators. The collaboration extends to AI-optimized server infrastructure and data center design, leveraging Samsung’s expertise in high-bandwidth memory (HBM) and advanced packaging technologies that AI workloads demand.

6G Network Equipment and Telecommunications

Samsung and Reliance are discussing cooperation on 6G network equipment, building on their successful 4G and 5G deployments. Samsung has been developing AI-RAN (AI Radio Access Network) technologies, including AI-based channel estimation and distributed MIMO systems, which will be critical for 6G networks. For Reliance Jio, which serves over 500 million subscribers as India’s largest mobile operator, early access to 6G technology could provide a significant competitive advantage in the Indian telecom market.

Energy Storage and Battery Solutions

The partnership includes Samsung SDI’s involvement in providing battery and energy storage systems (ESS) to ensure stable operations for Reliance’s massive data center. Given the 3-gigawatt power requirement, reliable energy storage will be essential to complement renewable energy sources and maintain 24/7 uptime for AI training and inference workloads.

Inside Reliance’s $30 Billion Jamnagar AI Data Center

3-Gigawatt Capacity: What It Means

Reliance’s planned facility targets 3 gigawatts of power capacity, which would make it approximately five times larger than Microsoft’s current 600-megawatt Virginia data center, the existing capacity leader. To put this in perspective, India’s entire current data center capacity sits below 1 gigawatt, meaning this single facility would triple the nation’s AI infrastructure overnight.

The facility will integrate renewable energy from Reliance’s Jamnagar green energy complex, including solar, wind, and green hydrogen projects. However, maintaining consistent power for AI workloads at this scale will require substantial battery systems and likely some fossil fuel backup to handle peak demand and weather variability.

Nvidia Chips and Infrastructure Requirements

Reliance plans to deploy Nvidia’s latest AI semiconductors throughout the data center, following the broader industry trend toward GPU-accelerated computing for large language models and AI training. The infrastructure requirements extend beyond compute to include advanced cooling systems, high-speed networking, and specialized facilities to handle the heat density that AI chips generate in areas where Samsung’s engineering divisions can contribute expertise.

How Samsung and Reliance Built Their Decade-Long Relationship

The 2012 4G LTE Network Deal

Samsung’s partnership with Reliance began in 2012 when Reliance Jio selected Samsung as its exclusive vendor to build India’s first nationwide greenfield 4G LTE network. The deployment involved more than 40 trillion won ($27 billion) in total investment and required Samsung to install thousands of base stations daily to meet aggressive rollout timelines. Samsung provided both the radio access network (RAN) and evolved packet core (EPC), creating a network larger in scale than AT&T and Verizon’s U.S. networks combined.

5G Expansion in 2022

In December 2022, the partnership expanded to include 5G radio access network equipment as Reliance Jio upgraded its infrastructure for next-generation services. Samsung’s massive MIMO antenna technology and virtualized RAN elements enabled Reliance to increase network speed and capacity while preparing the foundation for eventual 6G migration.

Personal Ties Between Lee and Ambani Families

The business relationship extends to strong personal connections between Samsung Chairman Lee Jae-yong and Reliance Chairman Mukesh Ambani. Lee is the only Korean business leader invited to all three Ambani children’s weddings in 2018, 2019, and 2024 and was photographed wearing traditional Indian attire at Akash Ambani’s 2019 wedding, drawing significant media attention in India. These personal ties, cultivated since the tenure of late Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee, have created trust that facilitates large-scale business agreements.

Which Samsung Divisions Are Involved

Samsung Electronics: Memory and Foundry

Samsung Electronics brings semiconductor manufacturing capabilities through its memory division (producing DRAM and NAND flash) and foundry operations (contract chip manufacturing). AI data centers require massive amounts of high-bandwidth memory and specialized chips, both areas where Samsung competes globally with SK Hynix, Micron, and TSMC.

Samsung SDI: Batteries and Energy Storage

Samsung SDI will provide battery solutions and energy storage systems critical for data center reliability and renewable energy integration. Large-scale ESS installations can store excess solar and wind power during peak generation periods and discharge during high-demand periods or renewable energy gaps.

Samsung C&T and E&A: Construction and Engineering

Samsung C&T (construction and trading) and Samsung E&A (engineering and construction) bring experience in large-scale infrastructure projects, including data center construction, power systems, and cooling infrastructure. Their involvement suggests the partnership could extend to turnkey engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services for the Jamnagar facility.

Why This Partnership Matters for India’s Tech Future

The Samsung-Reliance collaboration positions India to become a major player in AI infrastructure at a time when data center capacity is constrained globally. Mukesh Ambani has pledged to make AI applications more affordable through cost-effective infrastructure, mirroring his strategy in wireless telecom where aggressive pricing led Reliance Jio to market dominance.

For Samsung, the partnership provides access to one of the world’s fastest-growing technology markets and a strategic counterweight to its reliance on Chinese manufacturing and U.S. cloud providers. The 6G equipment opportunities alone could be worth hundreds of millions of dollars as Reliance modernizes its network for over 500 million subscribers.

India’s government has prioritized semiconductor manufacturing and AI development as part of its “Make in India” initiative, making the timing advantageous for foreign investment in local production capacity. If successful, the Jamnagar data center could attract other hyperscale customers and position India as a regional AI hub alongside Singapore and Australia.

Comparison Tables

Reliance Jamnagar AI Data Center vs. Current Leaders

Samsung-Reliance Partnership Timeline

Pros & Cons

Pros of Samsung-Reliance Partnership

• Comprehensive technology stack: Samsung’s multi-division involvement enables end-to-end solutions from semiconductors to construction
• Proven track record: 13 years of successful collaboration on India’s largest telecom network builds trust and operational knowledge
• Strategic positioning: Gives India significant AI infrastructure capacity and Samsung access to a fast-growing market
• Personal relationships: Lee-Ambani family ties facilitate high-level decision-making and long-term commitment
• 6G early-mover advantage: Positions Reliance Jio ahead of competitors for next-generation wireless technology

Cons and Challenges

• Power infrastructure risks: 3-gigawatt renewable energy commitment faces reliability challenges requiring fossil fuel backup
• Competition: Samsung faces rivals like TSMC (foundry), SK Hynix (memory), and Ericsson/Nokia (telecom equipment)
• Execution complexity: Building world’s largest data center in aggressive timeframe carries construction and integration risks
• Regulatory uncertainty: India’s semiconductor and data center policies continue evolving, creating potential compliance challenges
• Technology dependence: Heavy reliance on Nvidia chips creates vendor lock-in for critical AI infrastructure

Technical Specs Section

Reliance Jamnagar AI Data Center Specifications

Power and Energy:

• Total capacity: 3 gigawatts (3,000 megawatts)
• Renewable energy: Solar, wind, and green hydrogen integration
• Backup systems: Large-scale battery storage + fossil fuel redundancy
• Comparison: 5x larger than current record holder (Microsoft, 600 MW)

Compute Infrastructure:

• Primary chips: Nvidia AI accelerators (latest generation)
• Memory requirements: High-bandwidth memory (HBM) from Samsung/SK Hynix
• Network: High-speed interconnects for distributed AI training
• Cooling: Advanced liquid cooling for high-density GPU clusters

Construction Details:

• Location: Jamnagar, Gujarat (existing Reliance energy complex)
• Investment: $20-30 billion estimated
• Timeline: Not officially disclosed
• Engineering: Samsung C&T and Samsung E&A involvement expected

Impact Metrics:

• India capacity increase: 3x current nationwide data center capacity
• Subscriber base served: 500+ million Reliance Jio customers
• 6G network scale: Nationwide deployment across India’s largest operator

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