MAM
Convergence India opens on Digital India theme with 434 exhibitors from 29 countries
NEW DELHI: India has emerged as one of the most promising markets for IT and Telecommunications companies with government initiatives such as Digital India and Make in India propelling growth and encouraging major tech companies like Facebook, Microsoft and Google, who are preparing to serve the Indian rural market.
This was the general view of speakers at the inauguration of the 24th Convergence India Expo, which opened in the capital today with 434 exhibitors from 29 countries.
Speakers said India is in the midst of a digital revolution, and the government has unveiled new policies and regulations to accelerate the adoption of ICT in key economic and strategic sectors to increase India’s competitiveness and productivity.
Bharti Enterprises vice chairman Akhil Gupta said, “The Indian ICT sector has entered an exciting growth phase led by the proliferation of digital media and technologies. With over one billion mobile connections, the country’s transformation into a digital economy will be driven by mobile broadband, which will help hundreds of millions of Indians benefit by connecting to the internet. The industry remains committed to the Government’s Digital India vision.”
CII National Committee on Telecom & Broadband chairman Kiran Karnik, who was moderating the inaugural conference session on Digital India, added, “The panellists comprised eminent names who bought a unique and different perspective on the various issues involved. The result was an excellent session, which provided many insights and useful suggestions.”
Keynote speaker at the Convergence India forum, former Secretary in the Government and former Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) chairman Pradip Baijal said, “Today’s India and Indians want to be informed and connected 24×7, hence mobile broadband. India has very poor fixed-line tele-density and fixed broadband density. Of seven billion mobiles in the world, 3.5 billion have been converted to mobile broadband. In India, less than 10 per cent of mobiles have been converted to mobile broadband. This needs correction, and I hope the conference will deliberate on this.”
Exhibitions India Group chairman Prem Behl, who conceived the Convergence India Expo, said, “Our endeavour is to bring to the forefront an extraordinary platform, which is informative, thought provoking and empowers both government and industry stakeholders to meet the challenges of the future.”
Participating exhibitors include: Appear TV, Cisco Systems, Elemental Technologies, Ericsson, NAGRA, RiverSilica, SanDisk India and Telenor, among others, who are using the Convergence India platform to showcase cutting-edge technologies and innovations.
Apart from the exhibition arena, concurrent conference sessions are being held in two separate halls with prominent government officials, industry leaders, technocrats, academia, media, etc.
Eminent speakers included TRAI chairman R S Sharma; Kiran Karnik; Broadcom India MD Rajiv Kapur; Cisco India and SAARC managing director – service provider business Sanjay Kaul; Telenor India CEO Sharad Mehrotra; ICA National president Pankaj Mohindroo; Bharti Infratel MD and CEO Devender Singh Rawat; and Viom Networks CEO Syed Safawi, amongst others.
Organised by the Exhibitions India Group, the Expo is supported by the Department of Electronics and Information Technology, Ministry of Communications & Information Technology and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
Brands
Burda Media sells BurdaLuxury to Jaipur Capital in Southeast Asia push
Deal hands regional media portfolio to Singapore investor eyeing luxury growth
MUMBAI: Burda Media has agreed to sell its Southeast Asia-focused business, BurdaLuxury, to Jaipur Capital, marking a strategic shift for both companies as they double down on their respective growth priorities.
The deal will see Jaipur Capital acquire BurdaLuxury’s media operations across Thailand, India, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong. The portfolio spans content marketing and media brands in travel, luxury and aviation, giving the investor a ready-made regional footprint and a sizeable audience base.
Jaipur Capital plans to build on this foundation to create a premium media network in Southeast Asia, blending high-end editorial with scalable digital platforms. As part of the transaction, all BurdaLuxury employees, including its management team, will move to the new owner, ensuring continuity as the business enters its next phase.
For Burda Media, the sale is part of a broader strategy to sharpen its focus on core European markets while scaling investments in digital-first opportunities. The company will, however, maintain its interest in the region through Burda Principal Investments, its global growth capital arm.
“This transaction reflects our commitment to sharpening our international focus while ensuring that BurdaLuxury continues to thrive in Southeast Asia,” said Burda Media CEO Jan Wachtel, adding that Jaipur Capital recognises the strength of the brands and teams involved.
Jaipur Capital, meanwhile, is betting big on the region’s appetite for premium content. “This acquisition significantly strengthens our premium content ecosystem,” said Jaipur Capital director Vikas Johari. He highlighted the business’s strong digital tilt, with 46 per cent of revenues coming from online channels, alongside a diversified presence across five markets.
The numbers tell a compelling story. BurdaLuxury clocks 48 million annual page views and reaches more than 40 million followers on social media, with no single market contributing over a quarter of total revenues. Jaipur Capital now aims to expand these brands further into Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines, while also exploring opportunities in the Middle East, including the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
With this deal, Burda Media trims its global footprint to focus on depth over breadth, while Jaipur Capital steps onto a bigger stage in the premium content space. If execution matches ambition, this could be a defining chapter for luxury media in the region.
