iWorld
Now, Reliance Jio coud set off broadband turf war with Airtel
MUMBAI: The entry of Reliance Jio in the telecom market disrupted mobile data pricing. Now, as the Mukesh Ambani-owned venture is set to enter the broadband service too, its competitor Bharti Airtel is also expected to bombard consumers with great offers. After telecom, the two companies are now prepping themselves for a war in the home broadband segment.
According to media reports, the broadband service from Jio will offer data speeds of 100 Mbps, with massive data limit, starting at Rs 1,000-1,500 a month. Moreover, it’s expected to offer a combination of fast connectivity and unlimited video and voice calls through the Voice Over Internet Protocol (Vo-IP).
To lure more customers, Jio may offer the initial service free of cost. Jio has already rolled out pilot services in few cities. Economic Times reported a person familiar with the development as stating that Jio might reveal the timing of commercial launch on 5 July, the day of Reliance Industry Ltd’s general meeting.
Airtel is also gearing up efforts to revamp its existing wired broadband connection. The telco has set aside Rs 24,000 crore for the financial year 2019. From current 89 cities it wants to expand its service to 100 key cities targeting big data consumption zones.
“We are closely watching the wired home broadband space and will combine innovation with aggressive investments and do whatever it takes to stay competitive on services and tariffs and grow our home customer base,” a senior Bharti Airtel executive said as quoted by ET.
The entry of Jio may again disrupt home broadband pricing forcing its rivals, especially Airtel, to decrease rates, repeating the 2016 Jio 4G phenomenon.
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Reliance Jio ready to disrupt wired broadband: Matthew Oomen
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.
