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INCableNet launches digital STBs on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturti
MUMBAI: IndusInd Media & Communications Ltd (IMCL), has announced the soft launch of its Digital TV Services, using the set-top-box in Mumbai city. Sources reveal that several senior INCableNet executives participated in the direct marketing and retailing (of set top boxes) exercise conducted on Sunday, 31 August 2003, in south Mumbai.
A press release says that in a symbolic gesture on the auspicious day of Ganesh Chaturti on 31 August, the INDigital set top box (STB) was released and inaugurated at the feet of Lord Ganesha at the Siddhi Vinayak temple at Mumbai. Incidentally, the cable trade in Mumbai has obtained a 10-day grace period due to Ganesh Chaturti and the rollout of CAS will happen only from 10 September after the Ganapati Visarjan.
Through the release, INDigital has also announced purchase and rental schemes for its high-tech digital STBs. This, says the release, will bring Digital Pay TV services within the reach of all who wish to watch pay channels.
As a special festive offer, the release adds that the outright purchase of its STBs at a special price of Rs 3,500 against the MRP of Rs 4,999. In addition to the over Rs 1,000 discount it, says the release, is also offering a booklet of special discount coupons valued over Rs 7,000.
The company has tied up with world-renowned vendors such as Nagravision (Switzerland) – a world-leader in Digital CAS Solutions for the deployment of the leading secure CAS System and integrating the CAS project; Tandberg (Norway) for the hi-tech Digital Headend; MagnaQuest (Hyderabad) for the SMS system; TechnoTrend (Germany) and Wistron (Taiwan) to provide STB’s of state-of-the-art design.
The company has also has an operational 24 hour call centre to provide customer support all through the year. The release claims that customers can reach out to a cable operator with all their queries, be it technical, operational or usage problems.
The release also adds that the STB, driven by a digital headend, provides crystal-clear reception of over 500 digital channels. The box allows the user to set a parental lock on channels that they do not wish their children to watch, create lists of their favourite channels and many new features.
INCableNet is also planning to introduce Pay Per View (PPV) of special and unique content such as prime movies, sport events etc. IMCL is soon to come out with unique digital content that non-STB owners cannot see.
The release says that the boxes are being initially deployed in South Mumbai, after extensive trials, and can be purchased by any customer in any part of Mumbai. Subscribers purchasing the STBs can avail of attractive schemes like gifts and prizes, and also low introductory prices for a short period – adds the release.
The scheme is now being extended to Delhi also, with the USP of the benefits of Digital Television.
INCableNet claims to be India’s largest independent broadband MSO. It claims that it is ranked among the 10 largest cable TV providers in the world.
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.
