iWorld
ITU Kaleidoscope 2024 kicks off showcasing global tech innovations
Mumbai: The 15th ITU Kaleidoscope Academic Conference, themed ‘Innovation and Digital Transformation for a Sustainable World’, has commenced today at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, spotlighting India’s role in shaping the global digital landscape. Organised by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the event will run from 21-23 October 2024, featuring discussions on 5G, AI, IoT, quantum communications, and other groundbreaking technologies, with more than 140 record-breaking paper submissions highlighting the world’s growing interest in digital infrastructure and telecommunications standards.
The top three selected papers will each be awarded CHF 2000 in recognition of their contributions to advancing the field of telecommunications. These winning papers, chosen by an expert panel, cover pivotal topics including quantum communication, network security, and 5G applications.
In a move to foster the next generation of researchers, ITU will recognise young authors from the selected papers with certificates of excellence, reaffirming its commitment to encouraging fresh talent in the field of telecommunications research.
The conference will feature numerous technical sessions and panel discussions covering diverse topics such as 6G network architectures, AI in healthcare, IoT for smart cities, and quantum cryptography. Key stakeholders and industry leaders will tackle the challenges and opportunities presented by emerging technologies, providing thought leadership on the future of telecommunications.
As part of the World Telecommunication Standardisation Assembly (WTSA-24), the event will emphasise the need for international collaboration in setting global standards for next-generation technologies. Kaleidoscope 2024 aims to ensure these technologies are developed inclusively, securely, and sustainably.
On 23 October, two important panel discussions will take place. The first will address connecting the remaining 3 billion, while the second will explore the role of youth in global standards development, focusing on enhancing participation in telecommunications and technology standards.
By hosting Kaleidoscope 2024, India continues to assert its leadership in the global digital ecosystem. With initiatives like ‘Digital India’ and ‘Make in India’, the country positions itself as a hub for innovation in digital infrastructure, highlighting advancements in 5G deployment and the development of indigenous technologies for global markets.
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.
