News Headline
SingTel to provide bandwidth to DishnetDSL
MUMBAI: Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel) has announced that it has signed a contract to supply DishnetDSL Limited (DDSL) with STM 4 international bandwidth capacity on the i2i cable, connecting to SingTel Internet Exchange (STiX) in Singapore.
DDSL, a leading provider of broadband Internet services, is the first to procure bandwidth on the i2i cable with SingTel. DDSL has a formidable network of Internet infrastructure across India and is the market leader in the broadband Internet space.
DDSL proposes to make available this bandwidth to all its existing as well as prospective customers and provide them with the ultimate broadband experience. DDSL will also utilise this bandwidth to rollout its DSL services in new towns and usher in the broadband revolution across the country.
The i2i cable network is the first direct cable linking Chennai and Singapore and is owned by Network i2i, a 50:50 joint venture between the Bharti Group and SingTel. Built using the latest DWDM (Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing) technology, i2i is the world’s largest cable network in terms of bandwidth capacity. When fully equipped, it will be able to transmit 8.4 terabits of data, which is equivalent to more than 100 million simultaneous phone conversations.
STiX is the largest Internet exchange in the Asia Pacific, providing Internet connectivity to more than 80 ISPs in over 30 countries in the region. STiX has nodes in eight countries — Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, United Kingdom and the United States. Through STiX, ISPs and multinationals operating in the region can route their communications to destinations within the Asia Pacific without going through the Internet backbone in the US. STiX is also well connected to many countries in the Asia Pacific, including China.
SingTel has four offices in India, located in Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai and Bangalore. SingTel promotes and supports a range of services to corporate customers such as international private leased circuits, Internet transit and regional voice services, in collaboration with local partners and carriers. SingTel customers in India include software companies, local Internet Service Providers and call centers.
DDSL has over the past few years built a network infrastructure covering four state-of-the-art Network Operating Centres (NOCs), 38 Points of Presence (PoPs) covering over 200 cities and serving over 250,000 subscribers.
SingTel claims to be Asia’s leading communications company with a comprehensive portfolio of services that include voice and data services over fixed, wireless and Internet platforms.
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.
