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Asiasat reports marginal decline in turnover
MUMBAI: Satellite operator Asia Satellite Telecommunications Holdings Limited (AsiaSat) has announced financial results for the year ending 31December 2002. It has reported a turnover of HK$951million which is a two per cent decline from the previous year.
According to an official statement, the operational highlights included:
– AsiaSat’s in-orbit satellites continue to operate well. Transponder utilisation rates: 36 MHz C-band at 78 per cent and overall at 64 per cent at year end, even in a highly competitive and weak market
– The launch of AsiaSat 4 is imminent. It is anticipated to be in its final position of 122 degrees east by end of next month. It will be launched on an Atlas IIIB rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The satellite successfully completed all its testing by mid-February 2003, prior to its shipment from Boeing’s manufacturing plant in Los Angeles, California, to its launch site.
– New Tai Po Earth Station on schedule for operation in the second half of 2003.
AsiaSat chairman Mi Zengxin, was quoted as saying: “The future for AsiaSat in the region is bright, and for this reason we will remain focused on broadcast, rather than point-to-point, communications. Set against this positive background; with an increased client base; a new Earth Station; a new satellite; and no debt, AsiaSat is poised to grow as the region recovers. It has been difficult to achieve growth in the prevailing economic climate.”
“However, our strategy, to expand through organic growth, and growth through acquisition and partnerships, remains unchanged. The company is financially robust and is well positioned to consider and seize any opportunities that arise, and to move ahead as soon as the economy recovers,” Mi Zengxin added.
Mi also said: “Global trends show that, despite continually falling cable prices, demand for satellite capacity used for private multi-point networks continues to rise, and we believe that this will remain the case in Asia Pacific. “
The group continued to benefit from strong cash flow from its operations, and generated a net cash inflow of HK$270 million (2001: HK$27 million) after paying capital expenditure of HK$449 million (2001: HK$607 million). At the end of 2002, the group was debt free, states the release.
Upon completion of AsiaSat 4, the company will have incurred a total cost of approximately HK$1,747 million (US$224 million), including the insurance premium.
AsiaSat has stated that its proposed earth station reinforces the commitment to customers to provide the highest quality signals combined with unmatched reliability. The Earth Station will duplicate many of the circuits and facilities currently provided by the Stanley Earth Station, thereby significantly increasing the integrity of AsiaSat’s services.
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.
