News Broadcasting
Eutelsat reports marginal revenue growth
MUMBAI: Satellite operator Eutelsat has reported revenues for the third quarter ended 31 March 2006.
For the three months ended 31 March 2006, revenues rose to 195.1 million euros from 190.8 million euros in the same period last year representing a rise of 2.2 per cent. For nine months it rose to 590 million euros from 561.9 million euros representing a rise of five per cent.
Eutelsat CEO Giuliano Berretta said, “We are very satisfied with the continuing solid commercial progress of the Group across our core
activities of video, data and value-added services in Western Europe and emerging markets in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa, as well as the higher than expected revenues generated from multi-usage leases.
“As a consequence of the good performance over the first nine months, and the comfort given by the successful launch on 11 March of our Hot Bird 7A broadcast satellite for our premium video neighbourhood, we are in a position to raise our revenue growth guidance from 2.5 per cent to more than 3.5 per cent for the fiscal year 2006.”
During the third quarter, Eutelsat says that there was a healthy demand for video applications as well as for data and value added services. Video applications revenue was up 3.9 per cent year-over-year. This was mainly driven by lease of capacity for the XX Winter Olympic Games, including for the European Broadcasting Union and NHK, and contract wins, notably for NTV Plus in Russia.
Data and value added services revenue grew 5.8% year-over-year led by continuous growth in value added services (+33.9 per cent at 7.5 million euros). This was principally driven by the roll-out of the D-Star broadband service for schools, regional administrations and enterprises beyond access to terrestrial broadband networks, despite delay in take-up resulting from the technical incident experienced by the W1 satellite in August 2005.
Multi-usage leases rose 27.9 per cent year-over-year due to a high renewal rate of contracts for government services during the quarter and favourable US$/Euro exchange rates compared to the same quarter last year.
Eutelsat has raised its revenue growth objective for fiscal year 2005-2006 from 2.5 per cent to more than 3.5 per cent.
News Broadcasting
Induction cooktop demand spikes 30× amid LPG supply concerns
Supply worries linked to West Asia tensions push households and restaurants to turn to electric cooking alternatives
MUMBAI: As geopolitical tensions in West Asia ripple through global energy supply chains, the familiar blue flame in Indian kitchens is facing an unexpected challenger: electricity.
What began as concerns over the availability of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has quickly evolved into a technology-driven shift in cooking habits. Households across India are increasingly turning to induction cooktops and other electric appliances, initially as a backup but now, for many, a necessity.
A sudden surge in demand
Recent data from quick-commerce and grocery platform BigBasket highlights the scale of the shift. According to Seshu Kumar Tirumala, the company’s chief buying and merchandising officer, demand for induction cooktops has risen dramatically.
“Induction cooktops have seen a significant surge in demand, recording a fivefold jump on 10 March and a thirtyfold spike on 11 March,” Tirumala said.
The increase stands out sharply when compared with broader kitchen appliance trends. Most appliance categories are growing within 10 per cent of their typical demand levels, while induction cooktops have witnessed explosive growth as households rush to secure an alternative cooking option.
Major e-commerce platforms including Amazon and Flipkart have reported rising searches and orders for induction stoves. Quick-commerce apps such as Blinkit and Zepto have also witnessed stock shortages in major metropolitan areas including Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
What was once considered a convenient appliance for hostels, small kitchens or occasional use has suddenly become an essential addition in many homes.
A crisis thousands of miles away
The trigger for this shift lies far beyond India’s kitchens.
Escalating conflict in the Middle East has disrupted shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. Nearly 85 to 90 per cent of India’s LPG imports pass through this narrow waterway, making the country particularly vulnerable to supply disruptions.
The ripple effects have been swift.
India currently meets roughly 60 per cent of its LPG demand through imports, and tightening global supply has already begun to affect domestic availability and prices.
Earlier this month, the price of domestic LPG cylinders increased by Rs 60, while commercial cylinders rose by more than Rs 114.
To discourage panic buying and hoarding, the government has also extended the mandatory waiting period between domestic refill bookings from 21 days to 25 days.
Restaurants feel the pressure
The strain is not limited to households. Restaurants, hotels and roadside eateries are also grappling with supply constraints as commercial LPG availability tightens under restrictions imposed through the Essential Commodities Act.
In cities such as Bengaluru and Chennai, restaurant associations report that commercial LPG availability has dropped by as much as 75 per cent, forcing many establishments to rethink their kitchen operations.
Some restaurants have reduced menu offerings, while others are rapidly installing high-efficiency induction systems, creating hybrid kitchens where electricity now shares the workload with gas.
For smaller eateries and roadside dhabas, the shift is less about sustainability and more about survival.
A potential structural shift
The government has maintained that there is no nationwide LPG crisis and has directed refineries to increase production to stabilise supply.
Nevertheless, the developments of March 2026 may already be triggering a longer-term behavioural shift.
For decades, LPG has been the backbone of cooking in Indian households. However, recent disruptions have highlighted the risks of relying on a single fuel source.
Increasingly, households appear to be hedging against uncertainty by adopting electric cooking options to guard against price volatility and delivery delays.
If the current trend continues, the induction cooktop, once viewed as a niche appliance, could emerge as a quiet symbol of India’s evolving kitchen economy.
