News Headline
Kolkata MSO RPG Netcom chooses DALVI as CAS vendor
MUMBAI: DALVI will be the conditional access system vendor for RPG Netcom Ltd, the Kolkata-based multi-system operators (MSOs), which is part of the RPG group.
RPG Netcom will install the DALVI analogue CA system from the UK Company in conjunction with Catvision Products Ltd, the exclusive distributors for DALVI in India, states an official release.
“The system will be fully operational and ready well before the 14 July CAS deadline,” DALVI business development manager Lewis Zimbler is quoted as saying in the release.
Currently, DALVI systems are deployed in over 25 countries internationally, says the release. It informs that, in a price sensitive market like India expensive digital systems offer only one-way compatibility and none of the value added services of high-end digital boxes.
Massive investments in digital head ends and up-gradation of current analogue cable networks before digital CAS can roll out are some of the other major barriers to digital systems. Even mature cable markets like the US, Europe and Taiwan have only 25-30 per cent penetration of digital subscribers after 5-10 years of introduction.
“Subscribers are going to demand 24×7 performance from their Set Top Boxes, while operators and MSOs will not compromise on ‘security’ – the key element that ensures a box cannot be ‘hacked’ or pirated,” Catvision Products Ltd director Sudhir Damodaran, is quoted as saying in the release.
The Kolkata cable market has over 1.2 million cable homes and estimates are that the first year penetration of set top boxes could exceed 40 per cent of the total market.
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.
