iWorld
India gives “poor” video streaming experience on smartphones
MUMBAI: Despite India gaining momentum for video streaming on smartphones, the country still lags far behind on global standards — falling in the poor territory characterised by frequent stalling during video playback and long loading times even for low-resolution video, an OpenSignal report revealed on Tuesday according to ET Telecom.
OpenSignal’s video experience metric, a first-of-its-kind measurement in the mobile industry, was derived from an International Telecommunication Union (ITU)-based approach for measuring video quality.
For the analysis, OpenSignal examined 69 countries spread throughout the globe to see how they stacked up in video experience.
“Our tests sample video at multiple resolutions accessed from multiple content providers, and they weigh three main criteria: the load time before the video begins playing, the stalling rate characterised by stops and stutters in the video playback, and the level of picture resolution,” OpenSignal said in a statement.
When it comes to overall mobile video experience, India joins Iran and the Philippines below the “Fair” threshold into “Poor” territory (0-40), according to the report.
The best video experience was recorded in the Czech Republic.
According to the report, countries with extremely powerful LTE networks in terms of download and upload speeds, availability and coverage, aren’t always providing the best video experience.
In general, European countries tended to rank higher than their counterparts in the Americas, while Asian and Middle Eastern countries are scattered throughout the rankings, the report pointed.
“Eleven of the 69 countries we analysed earned a very good rating on OpenSignal’s video experience scale, meaning mobile video loaded quickly and rarely stalled even at higher resolutions,” the report added.
A score that falls within 75-100 is Excellent, 65-75 is Very Good, 55-65 is Good, 40-55 is Fair and 0-40 is poor.
While no country fell into the Excellent (75-100) category for average video quality, South Korea (with top download speed of 45.58 Mbps) was the fastest of the 69 countries analysed in the report.
The vast majority of the 69 countries fell into a relatively narrow range of scores between 40 and 65, earning them either fair or good ratings.
“It means for much of the world, the typical mobile video experience leaves something to be desired. Video load times are sluggish; stops and stutters mid-stream is common to varying degrees; and connections often have trouble coping with higher-resolution formats,” the report noted.
Judged by the user experience rather than rote measurements, the mobile industry still has work to do when it comes to video.
iWorld
Samay Raina confirms return of India’s Got Latent after controversy
Still Alive mixes humour and reflection as comedian revisits 2025 row
MUMBAI: Samay Raina has signalled a possible return of his controversial show India’s Got Latent, using his latest stand-up special Still Alive to address the past and hint at what lies ahead.
Released on YouTube, the special marks Raina’s most candid take yet on the backlash that forced the show off air in 2025. While much of the performance leans on humour, it also dips into more reflective territory, offering a glimpse into the emotional toll of the controversy.
Recounting the fallout, YouTube comedian samay raina said, “We were both extremely unsettled. How would we navigate this? It was terrifying. We were lost as to what was happening.” He also spoke about a moment involving fellow comedian Balraj Ghai’s family, describing it as overwhelming and difficult to process.
The personal impact of the episode came through most strongly when Raina spoke about his family. He admitted he struggled to even answer a call from his mother during the crisis. YouTube comedian samay raina said, “I hesitated to answer her call and show my tear-streaked face. How would she react? My mom is unaware of anything except how to love.”
Amid the introspection, Raina also dropped a clear hint about the future of his show. While he believes the first season ended on a high note, he confirmed that he intends to revive it. YouTube comedian samay raina said, “I will bring back the show because it used to be fun making it.”
The original run of India’s Got Latent had been pulled down following widespread criticism and legal scrutiny over controversial remarks that went viral, prompting debates around content boundaries in India’s digital entertainment space. Raina later removed episodes and issued an apology, stepping back from major releases for a period.
His return now appears more measured, blending humour with reflection and signalling a creative reset. He also hinted that the next iteration of the show could be more raw and unfiltered, though details remain under wraps.
For fans, the takeaway is simple. The show that sparked both laughter and debate may be gearing up for a second act, with Raina ready to test the limits once again, this time with a sharper sense of where the lines lie.
