Internet connectivity in two-tier cities like Guwahati, which is among the most developed cities in northeast India, is subpar, claims Kangkna Talukdar, a gaming influencer. The MBA student moonlights as a gamer, streaming games like Battlegrounds Mobile India and Grand Theft Auto 5 that she daily plays online by herself or in a group for a minimum of three hours. In the last few years, she has managed to become part of a gaming community where other enthusiasts watch her play. “Without consistent internet, streaming would not be smooth,” observes Talukdar. According to her, a minimum of 30 Mbps is required for “decent streaming”, but she prefers 100 Mbps, and only very recently managed to arrange for it through “sources”. Having been raised by a single mother, it took her time to become financially stable to buy gadgets to stream. “That is a huge part of it. When I started streaming, I would go to a friend’s house and play there. Only after I started earning, I manage to buy my current PC,” says Talukdar. Gupta faced similar obstacles. For a long time, she did not own a tripod, an essential accessory for influencers who mostly work alone. “I would keep my phone on my window sill and record videos,” she says.