iWorld
Reliance Jio announces acquisition of 269.2 MHz spectrum
Mumbai, 6th October 2016: Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd (“RJIL”) announces that it has successfully acquired the right to use 269.2 MHz (UL+DL) spectrum across all 22 Service Areas in India in the recently concluded spectrum auction conducted by DOT, Government of India. Service Area wise details of spectrum acquired are as per below:
| Service Area | 800 MHz band (Paired) |
1800 MHz band (Paired)  |
2300 MHz band (Unpaired) |
| Andhra Pradesh | – | – | 10.00 |
| Assam | – | – | 10.00 |
| Bihar | – | 5.00 | 10.00 |
| Delhi | – | – | 10.00 |
| Gujarat | 5.00 | – | 10.00 |
| Haryana | – | 1.00 | – |
| Himachal Pradesh | – | 5.00 | 10.00 |
| Jammu & Kashmir | – | 10.00 | – |
| Karnataka | – | – | 10.00 |
| Kerala | – | – | 10.00 |
| Kolkata | – | – | 10.00 |
| Madhya Pradesh | – | – | 10.00 |
| Maharashtra | – | – | 10.00 |
| Mumbai | – | – | 10.00 |
| North East | – | – | 10.00 |
| Odisha | – | – | 10.00 |
| Punjab | 3.75 | 5.20 | – |
| Rajasthan | 5.00 | – | – |
| Tamil Nadu | – | – | 10.00 |
| Uttar Pradesh (East) | 1.25 | 3.40 | – |
| Uttar Pradesh (West) | – | 5.00 | – |
| West Bengal | – | 5.00 | 10.00 |
| Total | 15.00 | 39.60 | 160.00 |
Enhancement of spectrum footprint
RJIL has renewed its expiring spectrum in 800 MHz band in Gujarat circle and purchased additional spectrum in the 800 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2300 MHz bands at 6.5% premium to reserve price.
Through this acquisition, RJIL’s total spectrum footprint has increased to 1,108 MHz(UL+DL) with an average life of over 16 years, further strengthening its leadership position in liberalized spectrum holdings. RJIL’s spectrum footprint ensures availability of spectrum in all the three bands across the country and enhances its network capacity at negligible incremental capital and operating expenditure.
Mukesh D Ambani, Chairman, Reliance Industries Limited, said “We have expanded our spectrum footprint thereby significantly enhancing capacity of our all-IP data strong network and ensuring world class services for all Indians. Jio is committed to taking India to global digital leadership by bringing the power of data to all Indians.”
Cost
The payment to be made for the right to use of this technology agnostic spectrum for a period of 20 years is Rs. 13,672crore, as per the details below:
(amount in Rs. crore)
|
Frequency Band |
Total Payment |
|
800 MHz |
3,623 |
|
1800 MHz |
2,154 |
|
2300 MHz |
7,895 |
|
Total |
13,672 |
The above results are provisional and subject to DOTconfirmation.
iWorld
Micro-Dramas Surge in India, Redefining Mobile Content Habits
Meta-Ormax study maps rapid rise of short-form storytelling among 18–44 audiences.
MUMBAI: Micro-dramas aren’t just short, they’re the snack that ate Indian entertainment, and now everyone’s bingeing between the sofa cushions. Meta, in partnership with Ormax Media, has released ‘Micro Dramas: The India Story’, a comprehensive study unveiled at the inaugural Meta Marketing Summit: Micro-Drama Edition. The report maps how the vertical, bite-sized format is reshaping content consumption for mobile-first audiences aged 18–44 across 14 states.
Conducted between November 2025 and January 2026 through 50 in-depth interviews and 2,000 personal surveys, the research reveals that 65 per cent of viewers discovered micro-dramas within the last year proof of explosive adoption. Nearly 89 per cent encounter the format through social feeds and recommendations, making algorithm-driven discovery the primary engine rather than active search.
Key viewing patterns show a median of 3.5 hours per week (about 30 minutes daily) spread across 7–8 short sessions. Consumption peaks between 8 pm and midnight, with additional spikes during commutes and work breaks classic “in-between moments” that the format fills perfectly. Around 57 per cent of viewing happens in ambient mode (while doing something else), and 90 per cent is solo, enabling more intimate, personal storytelling.
Romance, family drama and comedy lead genre preferences. Audiences show growing openness to AI-generated content, 47 per cent find it unique and creative, while only 6 per cent say they would avoid it entirely. Regional languages are surging after Hindi and English, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada dominate consumption.
Meta, director, media & entertainment (India) Shweta Bajpai said, “Micro-drama isn’t a passing trend, it’s rewriting the rules of Indian entertainment. In under a year, an entirely new category of platforms has emerged, built audience habits from scratch, and created a business vertical that is scaling fast.”
Ormax Media founder-CEO Shailesh Kapoor added, “Micro-dramas are beginning to show the early signs of becoming a distinct content category in India’s digital entertainment landscape. When a format aligns closely with how audiences naturally engage with their devices, it has the potential to scale very quickly.”
The study proposes ecosystem-wide responsibility, universal signposting of commercial intent, shared accountability among advertisers, platforms, creators, schools and parents, built-in safeguards, and formal media literacy in schools.
In a feed that never sleeps and a day that never stops, micro-dramas have slipped into the cracks of every spare minute turning 30-second stories into the new national pastime, one vertical swipe at a time.
