MAM
Indian antitrust watchdog raids global ad giants over alleged price collusion
MUMBAI: India’s competition regulator has launched a surprise raid on several advertising behemoths, including GroupM, Dentsu and Interpublic Group, as well as a broadcasters’ industry body over allegations of price-fixing, sources with direct knowledge told Reuters on Tuesday.
The Competition Commission of India’s officers descended upon roughly 10 locations in Mumbai, New Delhi and Gurugram after initiating a case against the agencies and top broadcasters for allegedly colluding to fix advertising rates and discounts.
The raids come at a pivotal moment for India’s advertising landscape, which is experiencing significant upheaval following the $8.5 billion merger between Walt Disney and Reliance’s Indian media assets. This regulatory blitz also follows hot on the heels of Omnicom Group’s $13.25 billion all-stock acquisition of rival Interpublic Group in December, a deal that created the world’s largest advertising agency.
According to one source who spoke to Reuters, the watchdog is investigating how advertising agencies allegedly conspire with certain broadcasters to fix advertising prices when selling to clients, including discussions around discounts. The allegations reportedly include concerns that certain broadcasters engaged in “collective action” to avoid offering discounts on advertising rates.
The Indian Broadcasting & Digital Foundation (IBDF), which represents heavyweight domestic broadcasters including billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance-Disney joint venture and Sony and Zee, has remained tight-lipped about the investigation.
Representatives from GroupM (owned by Britain’s WPP), IPG Mediabrands and Japan’s Dentsu all declined to comment when approached by Reuters, as did the competition commission itself, which maintains a policy of not publicly disclosing details of enforcement actions or price collusion cases.
Brands
Atomberg unveils AC rotary compressor technology at Acrex 2026
Move marks entry into Hvac components with India built solution
MUMBAI: Atomberg Technologies has unveiled a new air conditioner rotary compressor technology at Acrex India 2026, signalling the company’s entry into the Hvac components space and expanding its engineering capabilities beyond consumer appliances.
The compressor has been developed by the company’s B2B engineering arm, Atomberg Innovation Private Limited, which focuses on building engineering solutions for the consumer durables and Hvac ecosystem.
Designed and manufactured in India, the rotary compressor is built for 1.5 tonne air conditioners and integrates high efficiency motor technology with improved noise, vibration and harshness performance. The system also complies with Indian regulatory standards, positioning it as a locally developed alternative in a segment often reliant on imports.
The development marks Atomberg’s latest step in expanding its technology portfolio into Hvac component systems while continuing its push towards indigenous innovation in appliance engineering.
Atomberg Technologies founder and chief executive officer Manoj Meena, said the launch reflects the company’s evolution from appliance innovation to deeper engineering solutions. “Our journey began with reimagining everyday appliances through technologies such as BLDC motors. Today we are building advanced engineering solutions in India, including this AC rotary compressor, as we expand into the Hvac ecosystem,” he said.
Atomberg Innovation operates as an end to end original design manufacturing partner, developing solutions that include motor technologies, integrated drive systems, embedded control platforms and manufacturing capabilities. Its portfolio spans technologies such as air conditioning motors, motor drivers based on field oriented control algorithms, solar tracker motors and drone motors.
The company’s engineering infrastructure covers the full product lifecycle, from electronics design and digital twin modelling to testing and manufacturing through in house facilities such as SMT lines, motor assembly units and automated production systems. This integrated setup allows some products to move from concept to production in as little as three months.
By combining vertically integrated manufacturing with engineering led design, Atomberg aims to strengthen India’s capabilities in advanced appliance components while supporting the broader push for domestic technology development and reduced dependence on imports.
