As India continues to establish itself as a powerhouse in the global digital landscape, initiatives like WAVES 2025 are pivotal in bridging the gap between tradition and innovation, the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) said yesterday, according to an IANS report from New Delhi

India’s media and entertainment landscape is undergoing a significant shift. With 870 million active internet users in 2024, the country’s digital ecosystem is expanding rapidly, with rural users now comprising over 50 per cent of the total internet audience.

This expansion is redefining the way content is consumed, with short-form videos leading the charge.

As this transformation unfolds, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), along with IAMAI, is hosting the World Audio Video Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025 in Mumbai from May 1-4 that aims to position India as a leader in global digital storytelling.

WAVES 2025 is designed to provide a platform for the country’s diverse creator ecosystem, from tech innovators to regional artists, to showcase their talents.

Some of the key competitions include WAVES Comic Chronicles, which reimagines comic storytelling in India; WAVES AI Art, inviting creators to design audio-visual installations exploring the potential of artificial intelligence; WAVES Explorer, aimed at capturing authentic and diverse perspectives of India; and the WAVES Reel Making Challenge, empowering creators to showcase their storytelling using Meta’s suite of tools.

These challenges together offer a vibrant platform for emerging talent to push creative boundaries and drive digital expression across the globe, said IAMAI.