iWorld
Vodafone to buy 10 per cent in Bharti Tele-Ventures for Rs 67 billion
MUMBAI: India’s rapidly expanding phone market is attracting the interest of foreign companies. Vodafone Group, the world’s biggest mobile-phone company, is buying 10 per cent stake in Bharti Tele-Ventures Ltd (BTVL) for approximately Rs 67 billion ($1.5 billion).
Vodafone will buy out the entire 5.6 per cent stake Warbus Pincus held in BTVL. The other 4.4 per cent will be through the purchase of part of Bharti Enterprises Ltd, according to an official release. Bharti Enterprises maintains a controlling interest of 45.9 per cent in BTVL through its subsidiary, Bharti Telecom Ltd. Singapore Telecommunications owns around 30 per cent in Bharti Tele-Ventures.
Recently, the government had allowed foreign companies to invest up to 74 per cent in Indian phone companies. Earlier, the cap on foreign investment was 49 per cent. Vodafone had exited from India a few years back after selling its minority stake in RPG Cellular to Aircel, the largest mobile operator in Tamil Nadu.
Commenting on the deal, Bharti chairman and Group managing director Sunil Bharti Mittal said: “We are delighted that Vodafone has made a call on the Indian telecom sector and has chosen BTVL to be the vehicle to develop its continued interest in the Asian region. Bharti has had the privilege of tying up with ‘best in class’, blue chip companies, from around the world who have come and joined hands with Bharti, at different stages, to develop the telecom sector in India. At the time when the western world started hanging up on India, it brought in Asia’s telecom powerhouse, SingTel, to replace Telecom Italia and British Telecom.
Warburg Pincus, making its second largest investment in the history of the firm, supported the company in developing the strategy and investor focus, in its public listing. Today, when Bharti stands on the threshold of being an Asian telecom powerhouse, it has tied up with Vodafone to take the company to the next level and to support Bharti in achieving its vision of making Airtel the most admired brand in India. Bharti is fortunate to have four strong pillars to achieve its vision.
The entrepreneurial leadership of Bharti Enterprises, the Asian telecom powerhouse – SingTel which will continue to be our leading partner, the world’s largest telecom operator – Vodafone and, the most important one, a world-class management team.”
Added Vodafone Group PLC CEO Arun Sarin: “We are entering a relationship with a major company, which shares our vision and values and understands, as we do, the enormous potential of mobile telephony in society. This transaction is consistent with Vodafone’s strategy of developing our global footprint in growth markets, where we can create value for shareholders.”
Bharti Tele-Ventures is one of India’s leading private sector provider of telecommunications services with an aggregate of 15.13 million customers as of end of September ’05, consisting of approximately 14.07 million mobile customers. The company is the only operator to provide mobile services in all the 23 circles in India. It also provides telephone services and Internet access over DSL in 15 circles.
iWorld
Prime Video bets big on India with global originals, films and franchise expansion
Execs highlight scale, travelability and new IP bets as India anchors global strategy
MUMBAI: At Prime Video Presents 2026, the message was clear and confident. India is not just part of the plan, it is central to it.
In a lively fireside chat hosted by filmmaker Karan Johar, Kelly Day, vice president of prime video and amazon mgm studios international, Nicole Clemens, vice president of international originals, and Gaurav Gandhi, vice president for Apac and Anz, laid out an ambitious roadmap. Think bigger stories, wider reach and a sharper focus on building franchises that travel.
Kelly Day, a regular visitor to India, set the tone early. Calling the country “one of the most important markets globally”, she pointed to the sheer scale and diversity of audiences as a driving force behind Prime Video’s growth. Indian Originals, she said, are not just local hits but global engines powering subscriptions and engagement.
That global appeal is already visible. According to Clemens, around 25 percent of viewership for Indian content now comes from outside the country. Shows rooted deeply in local culture are finding fans worldwide, proving that specificity, when paired with universal themes, travels well. From gritty dramas to sharp thrillers, Indian storytelling is increasingly crossing borders with ease.
Clemens, who joined recently to lead international originals, was particularly upbeat about India’s creative range. She highlighted a growing slate of over 100 shows in development and production, with more than 60 percent returning for multiple seasons. For her, the formula is simple. Authentic stories, told well, resonate everywhere.
Adding to the buzz, she teased new and returning titles, alongside a fresh superhero universe, the Kalyug Warriors. It signals a push into new genres while doubling down on familiar fan favourites.
If content is king, distribution is the clever courtier. Day outlined Prime Video’s layered business model in India, which blends subscription, rentals, add on channels and ad supported viewing through Amazon MX Player. The idea is straightforward. Give viewers choice, whether they want premium, free or pay per view.
India, she noted, has also become a testing ground for innovation. Tiered pricing, mobile only plans and language diversity have all been sharpened here before being exported to other markets. In many ways, the India playbook is now influencing global strategy.
For Gaurav Gandhi, the next chapter is about scale with intent. He outlined four priorities. Making Prime Video more accessible, pushing Indian content globally, building stronger franchises and supercharging the films business.
On films, the platform is moving beyond licensing into co productions and now theatrical releases in partnership with amazon mgm studios. These films will eventually stream on Prime Video, creating a full circle from cinema halls to living rooms across 240 countries.
Franchise building remains another key pillar. With hits like The Family Man, Mirzapur and Panchayat already enjoying multi season success, the focus is now on creating the next wave of enduring IP. Newer titles are already lining up for second seasons, signalling a steady pipeline.
What stood out through the conversation was a shared belief. Streaming in India is still in its early innings, and the runway is long. With a mix of local flavour and global ambition, Prime Video is betting that stories from India will not just stay at home, but travel far and wide.
Or as the executives seemed to suggest, the world is watching and India has plenty more to show.
