News Broadcasting
First consignment of SitiCable STBs has landed
NEW DELHI: The multi-system operators are serious on implementation of conditional access system (CAS). The first consignment of set-top boxes (STBs) ordered by the Subhash Chandra-promoted Zee Telefilms’ cable arm SitiCable has landed in India ready to be seeded in the market.
When contacted by indiantelevision.com today, SitiCable executive vice-president Rajiv Khattar confirmed the development and said, “The first lot of boxes have arrived in our warehouse in India from Korea after being airlifted.”
Khattar, however, did not divulge the size of the consignment that has arrived, saying it would alert competition. Zee Telefilms additional vice chairman Jawahar Goel had told indiantelevision.com some time back that over a period of six months from the date of CAS implementation, the company is looking at importing approximately 2 million boxes. STBs would be needed to access pay channels in a post-CAS regime as mandated by the Indian government.
In the four metros of Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata and Mumbai, where CAS is being sought to be implemented in the first phase from 14 July, the cable and satellite homes range between 6.2 to 6.5 million, with Mumbai having the highest number of C&S homes amongst the four cities.
With the first lot of boxes at its warehouse, SitiCable now is awaiting a green signal from the government on pricing. The boxes would also be tested by Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Ltd (Becil) for technical specifications before being put out in the market for consumers. Becil is a government of India undertaking.
According to Industry sources, 250,000 boxes have already arrived in Chennai while in Mumbai 211,000 have landed.
Company sources also indicated that Siti Cable, which is responsible for the headend in the sky project through which CAS is being sought to be implemented, is aggressively marketing the HITS project, called Galaxzee, amongst cable operators.
Under Galaxzee, partner-cable operators have been offered up to 40 per cent of the distribution margin. .
News Broadcasting
Rising Bharat Summit 2026 spotlights India’s global ascent
PM Modi keynotes two-day event with ministers, diplomats and icons in New Delhi.
MUMBAI: India didn’t just host a summit, it threw a coming-out party for a nation ready to own the global stage. The News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2026, held on 27–28 February in New Delhi, emerged as a high-octane platform for ideas, vision and strategic dialogue, uniting national leadership, global policymakers, industry titans, defence strategists and cultural icons under the theme “Strength Within”.
Prime minister Narendra Modi set the tone with a keynote that framed India’s resurgence as a reclaiming of lost potential built over generations. “In previous industrial revolutions, India and the Global South were merely followers,” he said. “But in the era of Artificial Intelligence, India is a partner in decisions and shaping them.” He highlighted the country’s thriving AI startup ecosystem and the recent AI Impact Summit attended by over 100 nations.
Union minister Piyush Goyal (Commerce & Industry) stressed India’s readiness to scale exports and deepen manufacturing, while Ashwini Vaishnaw (Railways, I&B, Electronics & IT) positioned technology and infrastructure as twin engines of growth, especially in AI and digital trust. Jyotiraditya Scindia (Communications & North East Development) revealed India’s ambition to lead in 6G through the Bharat 6G Alliance and partnerships with over 30 countries.
Global voices added depth: former Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo called India’s development “self-sustaining” and strategically vital; ex-UK Chief of Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter asserted India deserves a seat at the great powers’ table; and former US Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez joined ambassadors from Norway, Germany and Sweden in discussions on geopolitical realignment, sustainability and defence preparedness.
Other speakers included veteran investor Ramesh Damani, World Gold Council CEO David Tait, Vianai Systems founder Dr Vishal Sikka, DeepTech Bharat Foundation co-founder Shashi Shekhar Vempati, defence experts Rajesh Kumar Singh, Sunil Ambekar, Patrick McGee, Tom Cooper and Adrian Fontanellaz, plus cultural and sporting icons Kangana Ranaut, Saina Nehwal, PR Sreejesh, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mithali Raj, Anil Kapoor and Yami Gautam.
The summit was supported by Jio Financial Services (Presenting Partner), Phonepe and DS Group (Co-Presenting Partners), Pernod Ricard India and Kia Seltos (Powered By & Driven By), state governments of Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand (State Partners), and associate partners including NSE, M3M Foundation and Reliance Industries.
Broadcast live across News18 Network, CNBC-TV18 and CNBC Awaaz, the event reinforced India’s image as a confident democracy and emerging global power proving that when strength comes from within, the world can’t help but watch.
