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Conax launches India subsidiary
MUMBAI: Conax AS, a supplier of conditional access technology for digital TV, has opened a subsidiary in India today. The debutant company is planned so as to facilitate India and the Asian region with technical operation services and local support.
Conax’s move to establish an Indian operation center with conditional access experts is the result of recent contracts with the Essel Group and Cablecomm, says a company release.
The SchweConax’ subsidiary will be officially opened by Norwegian Ambassador in India Truls Hanevold, today, on 23 October. In addition to technical operation and local support, Conax also plans to develop and test set-top boxes software in India.
The technical operations centre is established in Delhi. In a bid to strengthen their position in Asia, Conax has signed up with several operators in the Asian region during the last year.
According to Conax CEO Bent Brug?rd, “India is an important market within the Asian region, and after the decision of the Indian parliament to make CAS mandatory, the suppliers of conditional access have strengthened their focus on the growing Indian market. The set-up of technical operations centre will allow us to serve India and the Asian region in an improved manner and to provide Essel and Cablecomm with the needed CAS and local support.”
Established as Conax Access Systems Private Limited, the company will be managed by CEO Ranjit Nigam. According to Nigam, “In addition to technical operation and local support, Conax plans to start with software development and testing of set-top boxes in India. Hence, there will be an extensive transfer of knowledge from the head office in Norway. We expect the Indian subsidiary to expand with regard to number of employees in the months to come. This makes Conax the only CA provider with such strong presence in the Indian 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.
