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Intelsat, APT Satellite agree to serve Asia-Pacific
MUMBAI: Intelsat Limited and APT Satellite Company Limited, a subsidiary of APT Satellite Holdings Limited today signed a strategic cooperation agreement to work together using their combined satellite fleets.
In a signing ceremony at the Island Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore, the two companies agreed to market each other’s satellite capacity and ground resources, as well as to provide broadcast and telecommunications services to the Asia Pacific region, including China.
This strategic move will allow Intelsat, as well as its media and corporate data customers, to access the Asia Pacific market through APT Satellite’s two newly launched satellites, APSTAR 5 and APSTAR 6.
APT Satellite executive director and president Ni Yifeng said, “Forming this strategic alliance will significantly strengthen APT Satellite’s and Intelsat’s sales and marketing functions in the region. The alliance will also enable APT Satellite to provide more comprehensive services to its customers.”
APT Satellite will have access to Intelsat’s capacity in other regions of the world via Intelsat’s fleet of 28 satellites, thereby expanding APT Satellite’s reach and giving it the ability to seamlessly carry its customers’ traffic wherever they may need service.
“We believe that the agreement with APT positions us well to take advantage of any new business initiatives or opportunities that arise in the Asia Pacific region, including China, over the near and longer terms. We believe that entering into this agreement creates value at the company and customer levels; it enables Intelsat to expand its service offerings in the region while creating a new avenue for customers of both companies to seamlessly take their traffic into or out of the region,” stated Intelsat Ltd CEO David McGlade.
“Both Intelsat and APT will continue to explore other potential cooperation initiatives in the region, such as satellite digital multimedia broadcasting services,” added Yifeng.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
