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Eutelsat’s Hot Bird 6 broadcast satellite goes into service
PARIS: Eutelsat has announced that the latest addition to its fleet of broadcasting satellites Hot Bird 6 has entered into commercial service and is now beaming television and radio channels to Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.
The new satellite is positioned at 13 degrees East, home to Eutelsats family of HOT BIRD broadcasting satellites that deliver 670 television channels and 470 radio stations to 93 million cable and satellite homes.
A seamless transfer of all television and radio services from Hot Bird 5 to the satellite took place releasing Hot Bird 5 to a new mission at another orbital location, a Eutelsat release says. Broadcasters to benefit from the improved performance provided by Hot Bird 6 include TPS, Stream TV, RTL, BBC World/BBC Prime, Bloomberg TV, EuroSport, EuroSport News, EuroNews, Deutsche Welle and CNN International. A small number of services have also been transferred from Hot Bird 4 onto Hot Bird 6, notably for TPS, the release says.
A total of 28 of the satellites 32 transponders were powered up. The remaining four, operating in the Ka-band, will enter into service later this month. In addition to fulfilling its primary mission of providing Ku-band capacity for consumer broadcasting, Hot Bird 6 will be able to support a new range of services through a unique combination of the Ka-band frequencies and an enhanced version of Eutelsats SKYPLEX on-board multiplexing facility. Operating via four concentrated uplink beams over Europe, these combined technologies will enable direct access to the satellite by small terminals sited at customer premises. This will facilitate the development of new broadband services for connecting sites and will provide microbroadcasting for enterprises and regional authorities.
Eutelsat provides coverage across four continents, encompassing Europe, the Middle East, Africa, south-west Asia, eastern North America, and South America. Eutelsat’s satellite infrastructure gives it the flexibility to offer direct-to-home broadcasting, video distribution and contribution services, corporate network solutions and a portfolio of IP applications including broadband Internet access and Internet backbone connections.
From its strategic HOT BIRD orbital position at 13 degrees East and other orbital positions, Eutelsat claims to transmit more than 1200 television and 600 radio stations reaching an overall audience of more than 100 million cable and satellite homes.
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.
