iWorld
Sistema Shyam TeleServices to launch innovative services
KOLKATA: Sistema Shyam TeleServices Ltd (SSTL), the telecom services provider under the MTS brand, aims to launch innovative services early this year for smart phones. It is looking at launching devices, which can act as chargers as well as wireless internet for the smart phone users.
Also, the data-led brand, had witnessed upwards of around 100 per cent increase in online marketing spent in the calendar year 2014 as compared to that last year 2013.
“SSTL is looking at launching devices which can act as a charger as well as wireless internet for the smart phone users. Test phase is on,” said MTS India head of marketing and communications Gaurav Kackar.
On the online marketing spent, without quantifying the budget Kackar, explained that if in the corresponding period the company spent Rs 100, around 20 per cent was dedicated for online advertisement spent and last year, it was increased to around 50 per cent. “We have almost doubled our share on online marketing spend,” he said.
Also, the Facebook page of MTS brand has more than two million fans, he said.
MTS expects surge in data traffic. “SSTL expects strong data growth over its networks,” he said.
The company foresees exceptional data growth onto its networks. The Indian unit of Russia’s Sistema JSFC that operates under the MTS brand operates in nine out of 22 telecom circles in India.
MTS, mainly a prepaid data services, has made its mark too when it comes to post paid services. “In the last three months, post paid growth has almost doubled,” he said.
The company has, of late, shifted its focus to data-centric services such as video streaming.
Postpaid consumers pay Rs 999 instead of Rs 1,499 for the MTS MBlaze Ultra Wi-Fi dongle. Additionally they can also opt for 40GB data pack at Rs 999, among various other offers, concluded Kackar.
iWorld
Samay Raina returns with Still Alive, confronts 2025 controversy in bold comeback special
Comeback set tackles controversy, blending humour with raw storytelling
MUMBAI: Samay Raina is set to release his new stand-up comedy special, Still Alive, on YouTube on April 7, 2026, marking a high-profile return following a turbulent year.
The trailer for the special dropped on April 5, offering a glimpse into what Raina describes as a raw and unfiltered set that leans as much on honesty as it does on humour.
Positioned as a comeback of sorts, Still Alive draws heavily from the controversy surrounding his show India’s Got Latent in early 2025. The episode led to legal trouble, multiple FIRs, and a lengthy six-hour interrogation by the Maharashtra Cyber Cell, placing the comedian at the centre of intense public scrutiny.
Rather than sidestep the episode, Raina leans into it. The special reflects on the fallout and his personal journey through it, blending observational comedy with moments of emotional candour. Early audience feedback from live performances suggests the tone is less about rapid-fire punchlines and more about storytelling with bite.
The special was filmed during his global Still Alive & Unfiltered tour, which ran from August 2025 to early 2026. The tour saw Raina perform across major international venues, including the Madison Square Garden Theatre in New York, a milestone that places him among the youngest Indian comedians to take that stage.
The title itself signals resilience. “Still Alive” is a nod to navigating both legal and public backlash while choosing to remain unapologetically authentic, a theme that appears to anchor the set.
With the special set to premiere online, all eyes are now on how audiences respond to a performance that promises equal parts reflection and wit. For Raina, the message is clear. He is not just back, he is ready to be heard on his own terms.
