MAM
The SMC Group inks deal with ESSC to launch operations in India
Mumbai: The U.K. headquartered entertainment marketing, The SMC Group has announced its operation in India in a strategic partnership with El Sol Strategic Consultants (ESSC), a full-service brand consultancy. Through this venture, The SMC Group aims to unite companies and talent together in India and establish brands via engrossing avenues of sonic marketing, gaming, and e-sports. ESSC’s founder & CEO Elisha Saigal will take on the baton to represent SMC in India.
The association will enable The SMC Group to lay the groundwork for its initiatives in India whilst also providing ESSC clients access to a global network of artists and global talent from across countries.
“We are forging an exciting partnership through this unison as SMC India – one that is essential to local industries to create valuable opportunities for brands from across sectors,” said The SMC Group CEO Maurice Hamilton. “With El Sol Strategic Consultants’ strong foundation and network in PR, social media marketing along with influence and celebrity outreach, SMC India will explore modern marketing via gaming, sonic, and e-sports. The workshop with El Sol Strategic Consultants is the first of many initiatives to strengthen our talent and our presence not only locally but also globally and we look forward to what the association has in store for us.”
Speaking on the partnership, Saigal said, “We are elated to be partnering with the SMC group in a long-term association as SMC India. With the newly-formed SMC India, we are now adding a new vertical to our existing business. Keeping in mind the constantly evolving modern marketing trends, SMC India will introduce Indian brands to exciting facets of sonic, gaming & e-sports marketing and provide brands in India, access to talent from across 16 countries.”
To kick start its operations in India, an introductory workshop on the latest trends and the various marketing, branding, engagement opportunities that can be leveraged by brands, and agencies through the medium of gaming and e-sports will be hosted on 30 June at 5pm.
The two-hour session will be conducted by SMC Gaming directors Nick Smith and Romain Tixier who bring with them a plethora of experience in the global gaming and esports space.
Brands
Tata Communications named Gartner WAN Leader for 13th consecutive year
AI-driven network upgrades and global expansion keep telecom major ahead
MUMBAI: Tata Communications has once again secured its place among the top global network providers, earning a Leader position in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Global WAN Services 2026 for the thirteenth year running.
The recognition from Gartner highlights the company’s consistent performance in both strategic vision and execution, a rare feat in a fast-evolving connectivity landscape.
Over the past year, Tata Communications has doubled down on building what it calls a more intelligent and flexible network fabric. In simpler terms, this means networks that can adapt on demand, powered by artificial intelligence and analytics, to support businesses operating across geographies and industries.
The company has expanded its network-on-demand offerings, allowing enterprises to scale connectivity more easily across data centres and multiple cloud environments. It has also invested in next-generation fibre infrastructure and high-capacity 800G wavelength services to keep pace with the growing demands of AI-led cloud ecosystems.
Global reach remains a key focus. Tata Communications has extended its footprint through partner points of presence, enabling quicker deployment in new markets while strengthening last-mile connectivity through local collaborations.
Security, too, is getting a significant upgrade. The company has enhanced its Secure Access Service Edge capabilities to tackle emerging AI-driven cyber risks, including unauthorised data transfers. Looking ahead, it is also preparing to roll out quantum-safe encryption services based on post-quantum cryptography standards, aiming to future-proof enterprise data against both classical and next-generation threats.
Speaking on the milestone, Tata Communications executive vice president, core and next-gen connectivity services and chief technology officer Genius Wong said, “We are honoured to be recognised for the 13th consecutive year and deeply appreciate the continued trust our customers place in us. At Tata Communications, we will continue to transform our solutions so enterprises can build resilient, high-performance and intelligent digital foundations. With our future-ready, resilient and intelligent network fabric, enterprises can scale with confidence and thrive in an AI-powered future world.”
While industry rankings often come and go, a 13-year streak suggests more than just consistency. For Tata Communications, it signals a steady grip on a rapidly shifting global connectivity market and a clear ambition to stay ahead of the curve.
