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India’s pro AV sector is the fastest-growing AV market
globally, with 6.4 per cent growth projected for 2025, and 6.2 per cent through
2026, significantly outpacing China (five per cent) and more than double the
USA’s rate (2.8 per cent).
The global AV industry reached $321 billion in 2024 and is
forecast to reach $402 billion by 2030, with a CAGR of 3.9 per cent. India’s
performance significantly exceeds this global average.
“The market is fuelled by digital transformation,
infrastructure investment, and expanding corporate and education sectors,” says
Abhishek Anand, country manager at Netgear Enterprise.
Netgear itself has experienced impressive 40 per cent,
year-on-year growth in India, with widespread consumption across private and
public sector, education, and hospitality. It expects strong double-digit
annual growth for AV-over-IP solutions as enterprises, schools, and government
projects embrace networked AV as the new standard.
Christie: Projection mapping BAPS Swaminarayan project
at BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir Gondal Temple
Dynamic market for pro AV innovation
Many AV brands now derive 60 per cent-plus of their revenue from IP-based
solutions, reports Anand. “As the global market experiences slower growth (CAGR
reduced from 5.35 per cent to 3.9 per cent amid tariff headwinds), India’s
sustained high growth rate makes it a strategic priority for long-term
investment.”
Finding growth prospects to be “exceptionally strong”,
Christie’s sales director Rishubh Nayar says: “With rising awareness of the
impact of AV on storytelling, education, and public engagement, India is
shaping up to become an exciting and dynamic market for pro AV innovation in
the Asia-Pacific region.”
Zachery Brandstater, regional sales manager Matrox Video,
says pro AV in India “is growing at an incredible pace” adding: “There’s a lot
of motivation to embrace AV in many different spaces, and this is directly
translating to new opportunities of all different sizes. As one of the fastest
growing economies in the world, the potential for new business in the AV space
reflects that economic growth.”
Khajuraho Temples, Madhya Pradesh, India, powered by
Christie laser projection with Tricolor India Schauspiel.
AV culture in transition
The country is one of APAC’s most rapidly growing pro AV sectors driven by
Smart Cities, digital infrastructure build-out, and all-time-high office
leasing, maintains Bhaskar Majumdar, general manager for Ross Video.
“Additional growth is on tap as businesses and government projects require
broadcast-calibre video to facilitate communications, control, and
experiences,” he adds.
The culture is in transition. Businesses place high value on
innovation and impact, often seeking the ‘wow factor’ in their projects,
reports Brandstater. “As technology evolves, installations are moving beyond
one-off experiences to integrated solutions that span entire campuses, venues,
or even cities,” he says.
“This shift is redefining how AV is perceived and applied.”
Dana Corey, senior vice-president and Global GM at Avocor
underlines the shift from traditional, hardware-centric solutions to
integrated, collaborative platforms. “There’s a growing appetite for seamless,
user-friendly technology that supports hybrid and remote collaboration,
reflecting global trends but with a uniquely local energy.”
Jordan Thomas, Quicklink’s marketing manager, concurs:
“Traditionally, AV in India was predominately managed with specialist
production houses and marquee venues. Today, that culture is spreading into the
enterprise and public sector, as AV is becoming an everyday business
capability.”
Pink Noise delivered high-fidelity audio to Hussain Sagar
Lake in Hyderabad.
Transition from traditional AV to IP-based solutions
QuickLink sees India as a priority growth market and has partnered with local
reseller, SRSG for customers to gain hands‑on training and certification on kit
including the StudioPro platform. He adds: “Teams want fewer devices, tactile
control and workflows they can standardise and support across sites.”
The transition from traditional AV to IP-based solutions
requires significant education and change management, though India’s integrator
community appears to have shown remarkable adaptability.
Netgear recently strengthened its presence with the
acquisition of Chennai-based cloud solutions provider, VAAG Systems.
“India’s AV culture has shifted from being purely
hardware-driven to experience-focused and IT-enabled,” says Anand.
“Integrators are now as comfortable with network
configuration as they are with signal paths. The appetite for innovation is
exceptionally high. AV-over-IP adoption is growing faster in India than in any
other region.”
The Millennium School in Greater Noida: Pink Noise partnered
with Bhargavaz Pvt Ltd, and installed a professional sound setup auditorium,
using the EAW RSX Series.
Smart cities
The government’s Smart Cities Mission epitomises this. By integrating services
such as transport, education, emergency response, and entertainment,
respondents tell AV Magazine that it creates enormous demand for AVoIP.
“Major infrastructure projects, including metro expansions,
airport modernisation, and the Smart Cities Mission, are embedding AV networks
into their design,” says Anand. “Sports venues, convention centres, and
cultural spaces are also turning to AVoIP to deliver scalable systems that
enhance visitor experience and operational efficiency.”
Major cities – Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi – are
driving AV demand.
“Bengaluru and Hyderabad, with their concentration of
technology firms and start-ups, are hubs for collaborative workspaces and
hybrid communication environments,” observes Anand. (Mumbai’s media and
entertainment industries, alongside Delhi’s corporate and government sectors,
continue to invest heavily in modern AV infrastructure.)
“Bengaluru stands out as a global innovation hub,
influencing the adoption of new ideas and technologies,” underlines
Brandstater. “Mumbai, as the financial capital, invests significantly to
strengthen its international profile. New Delhi benefits from continuous
government infrastructure spending, creating consistent AV opportunities.”
Thruvalluvar Statue (Statue of Wisdom) light and sound show,
Tamil Nadu. Integration partner MSS World and content creator Knownsense
Studios used Christie RGB laser projection.
Government spending
At the same time, government spending is fueling significant growth in tier 2
and 3 cities. “From new museums investing millions in advanced AV to
large-scale cultural and tourism projects, these regions are embracing
technology as a tool to engage communities and celebrate heritage,” says Nayar.
Christie has supported landmark initiatives, such as the new
Bapu Tower Museum in Bihar, as well as heritage projection mapping and
immersive public installations across the country. “Together, these projects
underscore how AV is becoming an essential part of India’s cultural and
developmental story,” says Nayar.
Over the next couple of years he expects AV investment to be
driven by large-scale government and private initiatives across infrastructure,
culture, and entertainment. “Smart city projects remain a major catalyst, with
AV playing a key role in urban beautification, tourism, and public engagement
through projection mapping and immersive installations.”
Big tech, finance, pharma, and manufacturing are expanding
“growing data centres which fuel demand for advanced visualisation and control
systems,” says Majumdar who is leading an expansion of Ross’ local team and
preparing to open a new office in the Delhi area.
Long shot of Thruvalluvar Statue (Statue of Wisdom), Tamil
Nadu.
Landmark projects
Stadiums, live events, museums, and corporate environments will remain major
hot spots. Museums, in particular, have momentum, with these tier 2 and 3
cities investing millions in facilities that rely heavily on AV to enhance
visitor engagement.
Christie has contributed to some of India’s most challenging
and unconventional projects – from the awe-inspiring light and sound show at
the Thiruvalluvar Statue in Tamil Nadu, to a projection mapping on the façade
of the revered BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir Gondal Temple in Gujarat, and the
illuminations at the historic Khajuraho Temples in Madhya Pradesh.
“These landmark projects reflect how India’s AV culture is
embracing bold, innovative experiences and firmly establishing its place on the
global stage,” says Nayar.
Revitalising heritage sites
Based in Uttar Pradesh, director at distributor Pink Noise Professionals,
Vikram Yadav highlights the surging tourism industry “revitalising heritage
sites like forts and lakes with spectacular light-and-sound spectacles that
blend history and modernity.
“The live events scene is exploding with concerts and
festivals, where flexible pro AV solutions fuse tradition with tech, creating
immersive, unforgettable experiences that captivate crowds and boost economies
in emerging cities,” he says.
Pink Noise is the exclusive local distributor for the
ADAPTive audio system from US vendor, EAW which is now enhancing the Swarnim
Sports Academy in Vadodara; the Millennium School in Greater Noida; and public
displays at Hussain Sagar Lake and Osmania University in Hyderabad.
“Indian pro AV is booming, fuelled by heavy investments in
durable, reliable sound and video systems designed for future scalability.
These installations are transforming infrastructure, schools and entertainment
venues, extending beyond major cities into rapidly growing tier 2 markets
hungry for premium AV experiences,” says Yadav.
India’s scale and diversity
Perhaps the main challenge of doing business in India is navigating its
diversity and complexity across regions, regulations, and market expectations.
“As in any large democratic nation, bureaucracy can
sometimes slow progress, but this is natural for a country as geographically
vast and culturally rich as India,” says Nayar. “Understanding the market’s
nuances, being adaptable, and partnering with trusted local teams are
essential.”
To strengthen its presence Christie established an ISO 6
(Class 1000 cleanroom) facility in its India office for cleaning and repairing
light engines of projection systems – the first such facility in APAC.
The country already boasts one of the most mature and
process-driven AV industries in the world, with a strong base of CTS-certified
professionals and installations that are not only world-class but, in many
cases, set new benchmarks globally.
Primary challenge
For Bandstater the primary challenge is education – “ensuring integrators and
end users fully understand how technologies like AVoIP and IPMX can meet
ambitious project goals. Building awareness is as critical as the investment
itself.
Christie’s Anand believes India’s diversity presents both
complexity and opportunity. “Success comes from local partnerships, patience,
and simplifying technology to make advanced networking accessible to all
integrators. Understanding regional variations across sectors, from corporate
to education, hospitality to government, requires flexibility and customisation
rather than one-size-fits-all approaches.”
Avocor is supporting flagship projects in smart city
initiatives, transport infrastructure, and education, providing interactive
displays for modern classrooms and collaborative workspaces.
At InfoComm India 2025, Avocor showcased its largest booth
to date at the show, “underlining our commitment to the market,” says Corey.
“By expanding local teams and partnerships, we aim to better serve regional
needs.”
Storytelling AV
India’s business and AV culture is changing swiftly from traditional ‘room
tech’ to live, immersive content experiences. As Majumdar says: “From
corporates and educational institutions to government offices and stadiums,
organisations must tell stories with the elegance of television using devices
that are intuitive and easy to use.”
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