iWorld
Airtel acquires 25 per cent stake in Lavelle Networks
Mumbai: Telecom major Bharti Airtel has acquired about a 25 per cent equity stake in Bengaluru-based technology startup Lavelle Networks. The agreement is subject to statutory approvals.
Lavelle Networks specialises in software-defined wide area network solutions and it serves a range of industry segments. “As more enterprises move to cloud-based applications to serve their customers in a digital-first ecosystem, they require on-demand and reliable network connectivity. As a result, there is a surge in demand for software-defined solutions that have the agility to serve a cloud-based hybrid IT environment,” said the statement.
“SD-WAN is the necessary arsenal for enterprises to transform and future-proof their network infrastructure in this digital age,” said Frost & Sullivan South Asia associate director and head ICT Apalak Ghosh. “Its market in India is expected to grow exponentially at a CAGR of 55 per cent in 2022-2026. As per F&S End-User Survey 2021, about 62 per cent of enterprises plan to deploy SD-WAN across their organization in the next 1-2 years. Some of the major drivers which would contribute to this phenomenal run include the need for seamless management of hybrid networks, faster deployment of new sites, and network cost-efficiency.”
Airtel Business’ network-as-a-service (NaaS) is a digital platform that is built to address the emerging connectivity requirements of enterprises as they go through the cloud and digital adoption and acceleration journey. As part of its NaaS portfolio, Airtel will offer software-defined connectivity solutions from Lavelle Networks and co-create a host of innovations as part of its NaaS platform. This also aims to bring ‘made in India’ products and solutions for enterprises by offering cutting-edge technology and cost efficiencies.
“We are pleased to support Lavelle’s growth journey and excited to collaborate with them to take their world-class solutions to enterprise customers in the fast-growing Indian NaaS market,” said Airtel Business director and CEO Ajay Chitkara. “With our end-to-end solutions play and brand trust, we are uniquely positioned to serve the needs of India’s fast-growing digital economy.”
“Digital India’s businesses are racing away to applications, cloud and software,” said Lavelle Networks co-founder and CEO Shyamal Kumar. “Connecting all of this together are our enterprise data networks. We are extremely excited that our product and early market success will now be massively accelerated by this transformational partnership with Airtel.”
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Tata Play Binge adds Pocket Films to micro drama platform Shots
Over 210 micro dramas and 220 hours of content strengthen short form play
MUMBAI: Short stories are getting shorter and sharper. Tata Play Binge is doubling down on snackable storytelling, adding Pocket Films to its micro-drama hub Shots as it looks to capture India’s fast-growing appetite for quick-consumption content. The move expands Shots into a deeper, more diverse catalogue, now featuring over 210 micro-dramas and 220 hours of short-format programming across genres such as action, drama and thriller. The content spans Hindi and key regional languages, reflecting the increasingly local yet mobile-first nature of viewing habits.
Pocket Films brings with it a library of emotionally driven, culturally rooted narratives, including micro-dramas like Chaturanga, Vidushi, Maasa, Silent Cycle and Pilibhit, alongside short films such as Lock-up, Dubki and The Disguise. The addition builds on existing partnerships with Bullet and Stage, strengthening Shots as a one-stop destination for bite-sized storytelling.
Designed for vertical viewing, the platform leans into scroll-friendly interfaces, auto-play sequencing and seamless discovery mirroring the habits of always-on, digital-first audiences. The content remains ad-supported and is available within the Tata Play Binge app at no additional cost.
The integration also sits within a broader aggregation strategy. Tata Play Binge currently offers access to 30 plus OTT services including Prime Video, JioHotstar, Zee5 and Apple TV+ through a single subscription and interface, aiming to simplify fragmented streaming consumption.
As platforms race to keep up with shrinking attention spans, Tata Play Binge’s bet is straightforward: when stories get shorter, the catalogue needs to get bigger and faster.
