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Brunei’s RTB International using Asiasat to expand presence across Asia
MUMBAI: Asian satellite operator Asiasat and Brinei’s pubcaster Radio Television Brunei (RTB) gave signed a lease agreement.
This is for the use of C-band capacity on Asiasat 2 for free to air distribution of the ‘RTB International’ channel, serving viewers in Asia, Australasia and the Middle East.
RTB International has commenced broadcasting on Asiasat 2. It offers programming in Malay and English languages 24 hours a day on a range of content including news, current affairs, religious, dramas, musicals, game shows, documentaries, sports, magazines and educational programmes.
“We are very excited to expand our broadcast service to the whole of Asia, and further to the Middle East and Australasia via Asiasat 2. We have been using Asiasat 2 for the Asiavision daily television news exchange service with many other Asian broadcasters for the last few years.
RTB director Lim Sam Lee says, “We are very satisfied with Asiasat 2’s service and we found it a very popular satellite among Asia’s leading broadcasters. Our launch of service on Asiasat 2 would enhance our capability to access more viewers across the Asia Pacific region and to introduce to international audiences the socio-economic and cultural development in Brunei Darussalam”.
Asia CEO Peter Jackson says, “We are very pleased to have RTB International on Asiasat 2. The introduction of this channel further strengthens Asiasat 2’s Asian content offerings. This, along with the other television programming from the Middle East, Europe and the US affirms Asiasat 2’s position of being Asia’s most comprehensive and popular broadcast platform for international broadcasting”.
RTB International will be available on AsiaSat 2 in C-band with the following reception parameters:
Transponder: 5B
Frequency: 3786.5 MHz
Polarisation: Horizontal
Modulation: QPSK
Symbol Rate: 6.00 Msym/sec
FEC: 7/8
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.
