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Connexion By Boeing, AsiaSat 3S hatch alliance
HONG KONG: Asiasat and Connexion By Boeing, a business division of The Boeing Company have announced the signing of a lease agreement
As per the arrangement Ku-band capacity on Asiasat 3S will be used to provide in-flight broadband communication services on the Asia-to-Europe flight corridor commencing in the first quarter of 2004. An official release informs that under the terms of the agreement, Connexion by Boeing will lease multiple Ku-band transponders on AsiaSat 3S, AsiaSat’s powerful satellite at 105.5E orbital location with high-powered coverage over East Asia and South Asia spanning from Japan to Turkey.
The satellite will provide passengers with real-time, high-speed access to Internet and data services including sending and receiving e-mails with attachments, browsing the Internet, accessing company intranets and entertainment services via their personal laptops or Internet-enabled PDAs. The connectivity also allows in-flight crews to communicate efficiently with ground operations for real-time data and information.
Connexion By Boeing provides mobile information services. It brings broadband Internet, data and entertainment connectivity to mobile travellers. Connexion by Boeing supplier management director Jeff Flagel added, “With the addition of this satellite capability, we are effectively positioned to support the introduction of the Connexion by Boeing service to passengers on the popular Asia-to-Europe airline routes. The Asian region remains a very important market for us and the addition of the AsiaSat 3S satellite will help us deliver the in-flight connectivity that passengers in the region are asking for.”
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.
