Editor’s note: Dear reader, welcome to The Evening Brief, Mint’s flagship end-of-market close newsletter that brings you some choice selections from your favourite business publication. You might notice some cosmetic changes to how this newsletter reads in your inbox, but worry not: we’re still delivering what you need to know, without any spam. Happy reading!
Bharti Airtel is rethinking its playbook in India’s near-duopoly telecom market. Instead of shadowboxing Reliance Jio at every step, it’s doubling down on premium customers and building services that make them stay. With its 5G spending mostly complete, Airtel is pouring resources into AI-powered digital tools, cloud tie-ups with Google and Perplexity, and a fast-growing home-services arm that’s adding broadband connections at a record clip. The idea: create an open, modular ecosystem that works with partners, is unlike Jio’s tightly controlled walled garden. Tariff hikes remain central to boosting its already industry-leading ₹250 ARPU, but the bigger bet is on becoming a “digital experience orchestrator” that sells more than just mobile plans. The challenge? Turning all the AI buzz and home-service wins into meaningful new revenue streams before the market’s next big shift. Can Airtel’s premium-first strategy deliver a sustainable edge over Jio? Premium readsWorried about tariff tremors? These three resilient businesses may provide solace LIC gets a ULIP fillip in Q1, still it has lot of catching-up to do ‘Sholay' at 50: Retaining a movie's magic in translation Amfi imposes 12-month lock-in on commissions to curb distributor misuse, protect investors Life after Ratan Tata: Here's how the Tata Sons AGM has changed Get weekend-ready with Lounge readsLet’s hear it for the new music bars ‘Sholay' at 50: Retaining a movie's magic in translation Colourful and looks good on social media: Why everyone’s rallying for pickleball fashion The best spots to get your egg coffee fix in Vietnam Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 review: Portability, performance in a trending form factor A new book looks at Michael Douglas and the confused American man Today in HistoryOn 8 August 2008, at exactly 8:08 pm, the Beijing Olympics burst into life with a spectacle watched by billions. The timing was no coincidence. In Chinese culture, the number 8 sounds like the word for “prosperity” and is believed to bring good fortune. Stack three eights together, and the luck multiplies. The date 08/08/08 was so sought-after that couples across China rushed to tie the knot, believing it would bless their marriages. For Beijing, the triple-eight opening was more than just symbolism, it was a statement of cultural pride, global ambition, and a hope for an auspicious Games. Thanks for reading! Written by Siddharth Sharma. Edited by Rashmi Sanyal.
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Airtel pivots from chasing Jio to deepening AI play
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