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Converging World 2002 focuses on CAS
BANGALORE : Converging World 2002, held at the Sree Kanteevera Stadium in Bangalore from 3 to 5 December ended on a single note – Conditional Access Systems, its implications and ramifications.
Also on the agenda were the equipment necessary for the implementation of CAS as well as new technologies available to the cable operators to adopt, survive and prosper in the fast changing scenario. The three day exhibition which included free seminars for cable operators’ benefit, had a low but focussed exhibitor and cable operator and trade attendance from the southern India region.
There were 84 stalls showcasing cable ware, prominent among them the main sponsors of the event – RB Comtec, Optibase and co-sponsor Gardiner. Some of the other big names in attendance a the three day event were Reliance Cables, Maheshwari Cables, Supertronix, Triscope, Eurostar and Ratika Computronix. Besides these, there were a number of manufactures and suppliers of fibre optic equipment, Internet on LAN / Cable software dish antenna equipment, Conditional access systems, CATV / MATV equipment, coaxial cable manufacturers and dealers, as well as Internet service providers.
Convergence World 2002 had sessions covering various issues right from CAS, advantages of Internet on LAN , fibre optic solutions and advantages for Cable TV and LAN, effects of CAS to the cable operator in the future. Visitors included representatives from major cable associations from Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Pondicherry.
Vijay Mansukhani of Delhi based Zeal Broadband Solutions, convenor of the exhibition said, “This is the first exhibition of its kind on this scale to be held in Bangalore and we plan to make this an annual affair. Although the first day saw a poor response, the second and third days saw a better response with a number of cable operators right from Kolkata to Cochin visiting the exhibition cum seminar. There were approximately 2000 trade and industry people who attended the show.”
A number of South India based associations tried to disrupt the show in its planning and execution stages and it took all of Vijay’s efforts to bring the show to fruition, he claimed.
Even the disgruntled breakaway faction of 30 odd cable operators who had set up a new headend called Southern Info-tainment India, saw the venue as a platform to raise their grievances against broadcasters. They had put up caricatures and cartoons of distribution heads of broadcasters who have refused to entertain them, in a bid to invoke sympathy and support from visitors of the exhibition.
Convergence World 2002 had sessions covering various issues right from CAS, advantages of Internet on LAN , fibre optic solutions and advantages for Cable TV and LAN, effects of CAS to the cable operator in the future.
Cable TV veteran Colonel Khare, who spoke at the convention, came out in favour of conditional access and set top boxes and said addressability’s time had come. He elaborated on the rapid expansion of cable TV in India and the galloping increase in subscription charges.
He presented the issue of pay TV from two perspectives: that of the cable TV operator, and the government, highlighting that the government needed to increase revenue collections and hence was looking at CAS as a vehicle to do so.
He pointed out that cable TV operators are hemmed in and bludgeoned by broadcasters who are constantly revising rates upwards and signing one-sided agreements with them. The rate revisions are taking place under the guise of increasing collections from cable TV operators, who broadcasters allege are underdeclaring their subscriber base, he said.
The broadcasters are also, he pointed out, cartelising and bundling channels, and forcing cable TV ops to carry channels that they do not wish to carry. Since the cable TV operator fraternity is fragmented and fissioned, the monopolistic tendencies of broadcasters go unprotested, he said. There is no body or organisation to address their complaints either which should be set up, he said.
He stressed that bargaining power will always be with broadcasters as they are the creators and transmitters of content which is in demand amongst viewers. Referring to the Cable TV network amendment, he told attendees that they will have to comply with it within six months of the passing of the act. This means they will have to prepare for installation of boxes, encryption and decryption equipment, differential pricing for CATV in different states, different basic tier channels depending on the locality, registering their subscriber bases with the authorities. “Cable TV operators are a courageous lot,” he said. “And they have to do things right.”
Kolkata-based Netsanchar consultant Ashok Vaswani exhorted cable TV to consider the option of offering Internet over a LAN network to their subscribers. He spelt out the costs involved, the technology, the advantages that LAN internet offers, the precautions that cable TV operators have to take.
Sanjay Mansukhani from Kolkata based Zee electronics about Fibre optics and its advantages vis a vis coaxial .He detailed out the advantages of fiber optic cables ,the construction and different types of fibre optic cables, optical nodes, splitters ,transmitter and receivers .He also spoke about the different methods of splicing and cleaving fiber optic cables and ended with the cost comparisions favouring fiber optic cables.
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Induction cooktop demand spikes 30× amid LPG supply concerns
Supply worries linked to West Asia tensions push households and restaurants to turn to electric cooking alternatives
MUMBAI: As geopolitical tensions in West Asia ripple through global energy supply chains, the familiar blue flame in Indian kitchens is facing an unexpected challenger: electricity.
What began as concerns over the availability of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has quickly evolved into a technology-driven shift in cooking habits. Households across India are increasingly turning to induction cooktops and other electric appliances, initially as a backup but now, for many, a necessity.
A sudden surge in demand
Recent data from quick-commerce and grocery platform BigBasket highlights the scale of the shift. According to Seshu Kumar Tirumala, the company’s chief buying and merchandising officer, demand for induction cooktops has risen dramatically.
“Induction cooktops have seen a significant surge in demand, recording a fivefold jump on 10 March and a thirtyfold spike on 11 March,” Tirumala said.
The increase stands out sharply when compared with broader kitchen appliance trends. Most appliance categories are growing within 10 per cent of their typical demand levels, while induction cooktops have witnessed explosive growth as households rush to secure an alternative cooking option.
Major e-commerce platforms including Amazon and Flipkart have reported rising searches and orders for induction stoves. Quick-commerce apps such as Blinkit and Zepto have also witnessed stock shortages in major metropolitan areas including Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
What was once considered a convenient appliance for hostels, small kitchens or occasional use has suddenly become an essential addition in many homes.
A crisis thousands of miles away
The trigger for this shift lies far beyond India’s kitchens.
Escalating conflict in the Middle East has disrupted shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. Nearly 85 to 90 per cent of India’s LPG imports pass through this narrow waterway, making the country particularly vulnerable to supply disruptions.
The ripple effects have been swift.
India currently meets roughly 60 per cent of its LPG demand through imports, and tightening global supply has already begun to affect domestic availability and prices.
Earlier this month, the price of domestic LPG cylinders increased by Rs 60, while commercial cylinders rose by more than Rs 114.
To discourage panic buying and hoarding, the government has also extended the mandatory waiting period between domestic refill bookings from 21 days to 25 days.
Restaurants feel the pressure
The strain is not limited to households. Restaurants, hotels and roadside eateries are also grappling with supply constraints as commercial LPG availability tightens under restrictions imposed through the Essential Commodities Act.
In cities such as Bengaluru and Chennai, restaurant associations report that commercial LPG availability has dropped by as much as 75 per cent, forcing many establishments to rethink their kitchen operations.
Some restaurants have reduced menu offerings, while others are rapidly installing high-efficiency induction systems, creating hybrid kitchens where electricity now shares the workload with gas.
For smaller eateries and roadside dhabas, the shift is less about sustainability and more about survival.
A potential structural shift
The government has maintained that there is no nationwide LPG crisis and has directed refineries to increase production to stabilise supply.
Nevertheless, the developments of March 2026 may already be triggering a longer-term behavioural shift.
For decades, LPG has been the backbone of cooking in Indian households. However, recent disruptions have highlighted the risks of relying on a single fuel source.
Increasingly, households appear to be hedging against uncertainty by adopting electric cooking options to guard against price volatility and delivery delays.
If the current trend continues, the induction cooktop, once viewed as a niche appliance, could emerge as a quiet symbol of India’s evolving kitchen economy.
