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Alcatel and ITI launch GSM production facility in India
BANGALORE: Alcatel has announced the launch of the first production facility for their GSM radio technology in India. This production line is being implemented at the ITI factory in Mankapur with an initial capacity of 2,000 base stations, which is to be doubled shortly. The plan for this technology transfer also includes ITI’s launch of several GSM factories in October.
ITI is a long time partner of Alcatel and with this transfer of technology will become, with Alcatel’s strong support, one of the largest suppliers of GSM technology in India. ITI and Alcatel delivered their first million GSM lines in February 2005. The two companies are now working on the delivery of the next 3 million lines, mainly with the production capacity of the Mankapur factory. The initial million lines covered the expansion of BSNL’s network in Western India including Gujarat, Maharashtra, MP and Chattisgarh, stated an official release.
The official release quotes Alcatel chairman and CEO Serge Tchuruk as saying, “We have had a long history with ITI and since the early 1980s, we have been instrumental in providing the first digital technology to ITI for creating a robust Indian Telecom infrastructure. I can say with pride that today over 50 percent of fixed line networks in India are powered by Alcatel solutions. This new GSM manufacturing facility will contribute greatly to the quality of service for GSM subscribers in India and add to overall improvement in the country’s telecom infrastructure. This latest association is a new chapter in a long standing relationship between Alcatel and ITI.”
ITI chairman and MD Y K Pandey stated, “Through our alliance with Alcatel over the past 20 years, ITI has been able to play a key role in building the telecom infrastructure in India”. He added, “Now, with the introduction of Alcatel’s industry-leading GSM technology, we are able to enter the mobile segment and provide a complete portfolio of mobile solutions to the public and private telecom operators.
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.
