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Navdeep Aswal Joins Firstlight Media to Meet Growing India, MENA Demand

Will build on Firstlight’s recent wins in the region with aha and PLDT
TORONTO and CHENNAI, India, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — With market traction fueling new growth opportunities in India and beyond, Firstlight Media today announced that Navdeep Singh Aswal has joined the company as Head of Sales, India and MENA.
Aswal, who has helped Tier 1 operators and media companies select and deploy OTT platforms for more than 15 years, will build on Firstlight Media’s initial successes in the Indian market. India’s aha entertainment service has leveraged the efficiency and rapid time to market of Firstlight Media’s breakthrough cloud-native platform as the foundation of its ambitious “glocal” strategy, beginning with the aha 2.0 Telugu language service launch in Q4 2021 and a new Tamil language service that began serving customers in Q1 2022, using the same back end.
“aha’s original infrastructure couldn’t provide the scale they needed, so they turned to our cloud-native platform to achieve rapid time to launch in multiple markets and languages,” said Chris Drake, Senior Vice President, Global Head of Revenue for Firstlight Media. “As aha’s success continues to generate increased interest in the power of the cloud, Navdeep  will work closely with prospective customers to create collaborative, innovative, winning solutions that leverage Firstlight Media’s revolutionary architecture.”
“OTT’s need to go all-in on the cloud to create truly differentiated video experiences is compounded in India by the need for language customisation, UX alignment, on-boarding, multiple digital payment systems, and other features to address the country’s diversity of cultures, content and languages,” said Aswal. “The Firstlight Media platform’s scalability, agility, extensibility, and unequaled performance already are powering fresh new services like aha 2.0 – a truly global platform which fully understands the regional complexity of the Indian market and consumers.”
Most recently Aswal had been Director of Sales, and Business Development – APAC for Accedo.tv, working closely with Tata Sky, Discovery Plus, Airtel, SonyLiv and other Tier 1 providers. Previously he had led acquisition and partnerships for Digivive Services’ NexGTv, one of India’s first OTT services. He also has held sales positions with Onmobile Global, Mahindra Comviva, Spice Digital, and other innovators.
Firstlight Media’s platform is designed to build and run scalable applications in the cloud using cloud-native technologies, including containers, microservices, a service mesh, APIs, and immutable infrastructure. The OTT technology stack provides significantly better performance, a modular approach for feature expansion, continuous delivery for rapid iteration, and built-in scalability, observability and security. Forward-looking OTT providers such as aha, PLDT’s Smart, Rogers Sports & Media’s Sportsnet, Struum, and others are using the Firstlight Media platform to deliver services with the flexibility and the agility of the cloud, while equaling or exceeding the reliability and high performance of broadcast.
About Firstlight MediaFirstlight Media is leading cloud transformations of OTT and in-home experiences for pay-TV, telcos, and MVPDs. The company’s cloud-native platform leverages a transformative Gen5 architecture for unparalleled performance in delivering premium video, handling complex use cases, and scaling to millions of viewers. Founded by a team that has built and operated dozens of Tier 1 OTT services worldwide, Firstlight Media is powering immersive sports, live experiences and personalized entertainment on any screen. The company is headquartered in Toronto and has additional locations in Los Angeles, San Diego and Chennai, India. For more information, visit firstlight.ai.

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India Emerging as Stable Investment Anchor in Turbulent Global Economy, Say Investors at IGF Mumbai 2026

Capital allocators at IGF Mumbai 2026 assess India’s role as conflict in West Asia reshapes global markets.MUMBAI, India, March 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As military conflict in West Asia disrupts energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz and global liquidity tightens, leading investors, policymakers and capital markets leaders gathered at IGF Mumbai 2026: Catalysing Capital to assess India’s position in an increasingly fragmented global economy.

The third edition of India Global Forum’s flagship Mumbai gathering brought together authoritative voices from private equity, venture capital, public markets and policy to examine how shifting geopolitics, supply-chain disruptions and tightening financial conditions are reshaping global capital flows – and where India fits within this evolving landscape.Despite global uncertainty, investors at the forum expressed strong confidence in India’s structural growth story.Speaking at the forum, Howard Morgan, Chairman of B Capital, said the current moment reflected more than just rising foreign investment.”What makes this moment different is not just the amount of foreign capital – it is the spirit and confidence within India itself.”Morgan added that global investors increasingly see India evolving beyond its traditional role as a services hub.”There’s a strong belief that India can become a global technology player, not just a services provider or a support hub for the rest of the world. India can produce goods and services for global markets, and for its own domestic market, which is now larger than China’s.”Reflecting on India’s position in a rapidly changing global landscape, Manoj Ladwa, Chairman of India Global Forum, said the country’s strategic balance is becoming increasingly important as global capital recalibrates.”In this evolving global landscape, India occupies a uniquely powerful position. Large enough to matter, open enough to integrate, and independent enough to make sovereign choices. India can expand trade while strengthening resilience, attract global capital while building domestic capability, and partner widely without becoming narrowly dependent. That balance will define the next phase of India.”Several speakers highlighted the growing importance of domestic capital in strengthening India’s financial resilience.Sunjay Sudhir, former Indian Ambassador to the UAE, offered a sobering assessment of the regional conflict that framed the day’s discussions.”The geopolitics of the Middle East are changing rapidly, and history is being written in real time. What we are witnessing now is unprecedented in this part of the world. The region has always been volatile, but few imagined that tensions could escalate to this extent.”Amit Chandra, Chairperson of Bain Capital Private Equity, pointed to the scale of local investment capacity.”Domestic capital is becoming one of India’s biggest strengths. Indian investors are increasingly deploying capital through equities and SIPs, while the country also holds vast untapped wealth in assets like gold.”Market participants also noted the rising maturity of India’s financial ecosystem and the expanding role of domestic investors in supporting market stability.Radhika Gupta, Managing Director & CEO of Edelweiss Mutual Fund, said increasing participation in mutual funds reflects changing investor behaviour.”February 2026 numbers for the mutual fund industry were actually 10% higher than January 2026 numbers. I think that reflects rising consumer maturity.”Similarly, Manisha Girotra, CEO of Moelis, highlighted how domestic investors are increasingly competing with global capital in major transactions.”One of the most encouraging trends is the rise of domestic capital. Indian strategic players are now competing with global investors to acquire assets. That rarely happened earlier.”Karthik Reddy, Co-founder and Managing Partner of Blume Ventures, highlighted India’s continued ability to sustain public listings as a meaningful differentiator, noting that despite periodic foreign outflows from Indian equities, global investors continue to allocate meaningfully to Indian primary markets, particularly IPOs.Vani Kola, Managing Director of Kalaari Capital, offered the long view: “In the last 40 years that I have been professionally engaged in the world of startups, conflict cycles come and go. They don’t matter if you take a long-term perspective.”Against a backdrop of geopolitical uncertainty and shifting capital flows, the conversations at IGF Mumbai 2026 underscored a growing consensus among global investors: India’s economic scale, domestic capital strength and institutional resilience are positioning the country as a defining force in the next phase of the global capital order. For investors navigating an uncertain world, India is increasingly becoming a market of stability rather than speculation.About India Global ForumIndia Global Forum tells the story of contemporary India. The pace of change and growth India has set itself is an opportunity for the world. IGF is the gateway for businesses and nations to help seize that opportunity.For more information, visit: www.indiaglobalforum.com Twitter: @IGFUpdates | @manojladwaLinkedIn: India Global ForumPhoto: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2932542/Manoj_Ladwa_Howard_Morgan_IGF.jpgLogo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2566069/IGF_Logo.jpg 

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Reliance Digital Introduces High-Performance iQOO 15R to its Nationwide Store Network

MUMBAI, India, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Reliance Digital announces the offline retail availability of iQOO, the high-performance smartphone brand built for today’s youth and tech-forward consumers. Following strong traction in online channels, iQOO is now extending its presence into physical retail, allowing customers to experience and purchase its devices first-hand at Reliance Digital stores across India.

Known for pushing the boundaries of speed, and power, the iQOO 15R is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, delivering exceptional speed, responsiveness, and sustained performance throughout the day. It packs iQOO’s biggest battery yet in an ultra-slim 7.90mm design, making it India’s slimmest smartphone with a 7600 mAh battery.The device features a 6.5K IceCore VC Cooling Chamber for stable performance and runs on OriginOS 6.0 based on Android 16 out of the box, supported by 4 years of software updates and 6 years of security updates. It is also equipped with a Sony LYT-700V OIS camera, a 1.5K 144Hz AMOLED EyeCare display, and IP68 & IP69 dust and water resistance, making it a dependable daily partner for professionals on the go.The brand’s offline expansion marks an important step in deepening consumer engagement by offering hands-on access to its devices, enabling customers to explore iQOO’s powerful performance, advanced display technology, and flagship-grade camera capabilities in a real-world retail environment.The availability of iQOO at Reliance Digital brings together two brands driven by innovation and consumer experience. While iQOO continues to build its reputation as a performance-led smartphone brand, Reliance Digital strengthens its portfolio by offering customers access to cutting-edge technology brands through its extensive nationwide retail network.Through engaging in-store experiences, knowledgeable staff, and immersive product demonstrations, Reliance Digital aims to help consumers better understand iQOO’s performance-first DNA. This move further reinforces Reliance Digital’s commitment to staying ahead of evolving consumer preferences and serving as a preferred destination for discovering new-age technology.With this expansion, Reliance Digital continues to play a key role in shaping India’s consumer electronics landscape by bringing future-ready brands closer to customers, while enabling smartphone brands like iQOO to build stronger connections with a growing, performance-driven audience.The all new iQOO 15R is now available at Reliance Digital stores nationwide.Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2931475/iQOO_15R.jpg 

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Power Creator Awards – Women’s Edition by Times Entertainment, Lights Up Mumbai, Celebrating Digital Trailblazers on International Women’s Day

MUMBAI, India, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — In a dazzling celebration of creativity, influence, and impact, Times Entertainment successfully hosted the Power Creator Awards – Women’s Edition on March 9th at The Lalit, Mumbai. Marking International Women’s Day, the gala honored the extraordinary women who are not just creating content but are building communities and driving meaningful change across India’s digital landscape.

The evening brought together the biggest names from the world of entertainment and digital media. The ceremony was graced by high-profile personalities including Hina Khan, Kusha Kapila, Sanjana Sanghi, Sona Mohapatra, Sonnalli Seygall, and Sumukhi Suresh, who stood as a testament to the growing synergy between traditional stardom and digital influence.A Distinguished JuryThe ‘Jury Choice’ winners were selected after a rigorous deliberation process by an esteemed panel of industry veterans. The jury featured:Divya Dutta (National Award-winning Actor & Author)Rasika Dugal (Versatile Actor known for Mirzapur & Delhi Crime)Shweta Tripathi Sharma (Acclaimed Actor and digital pioneer)Anup Soni (Renowned Actor and Anchor)”To witness so many creators through the jury process was a reminder that creation is a reflection of who we are,” said Shweta Tripathi Sharma. Rasika Dugal added, “I was particularly moved by the ‘Breaking the Bias’ category; the courage and honesty of these women is truly inspiring.”Celebrating the WinnersThe awards followed a dual-winner format—Jury Choice and Popular Choice (voted for by millions of fans nationwide)—covering over 20 diverse categories.CategoryWinner (Jury/Popular Choice Highlights)Power Comedy CreatorSrishti Dixit / Aanchal AgrawalPower Fashion & StyleRachel D’cruz / Jhanvi BhatiaPower Breaking BiasMira Erda / Saniya Mistri KaiyumuddinPower Music CreatorSantvani Trivedi / Melissa SrivastavaPower Food CreatorNatasha Gandhi / Kriti BhoutikaPower Fitness IconNeha Singh / Vibha MahajanPower Podcaster CreatorAleena Qureshi/ Srishti Ganguli and Salonie PatelCheck out the full winners list here – https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/women/voices-of-power/times-entertainments-power-creator-awards-womens-edition-complete-winners-list-palak-muchhal-ira-khan-and-more-honored/articleshow/129344078.cmsPhoto: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2931390/Power_Creator_Awards.jpg 

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