Hardware
Decks cleared for JAINHITS to get TV signals of MSM Discovery, ESPN and SUN channels
NEW DELHI: In less than two months since Media Pro Enterprises India was given directions to supply the channels it distributes to JAINHITS, the country’s only headend-in-the-sky (HITS) platform, the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) today directed Sun, Sony (MSMD) and ESPN to provide their television channel signals to the platform by this evening.
The three channel aggregators between them provide more than fifty prominent channels, but had been delaying giving their channels to Noida Software Technology Park Ltd (NSTPL) – which manages JAINHITS – which had approached the authorised content aggregator for these channels owned by Sony, Sun and ESPN.
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TDSAT Chairman Justice Aftab Alam and member Kuldip Singh were not impressed by the argument that all operators had created fresh Reference Interconnect Offer for HITS which was yet to get the clearance of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). They asked the counsel for respondents whether this did not amount to breach of violation of section 3.2 of the Digital Access System (DAS) regulations of the cable interconnect agreement.
With this, JAINHITS will now be able to transmit over 250 channels to consumers all over the country. The 12 September order relating to Media Pro had brought a total of around 75 channels into the JAINHITS fold.
The only satellite-based platform for the distribution of digital TV channels, NSTPL is currently the only distribution platform of TV channels that is providing advanced HITS services to consumers through local cable operators.
NSTPL founder and chairman of Jain TV Group Dr. J.K. Jain said, “The mission of JAINHITS is to build and operate digital highways in collaboration with cable network owners. We thank TDSAT for the ruling as this is an important announcement not only for the 60,000 cable operators across the country but also to the consumers. Without proper digitisation, government is losing huge revenue.”
Senior counsel for NSTPL Vivek Chib told indiantelevision.com that this order would not only be in the larger interest of the government’s digitisation policy, but would ultimately benefit the end-user with greater choice and better quality.
NSTPL had filed the petition under sections 14 and 14A of the TRAI Act 1997 seeking directions to enter into the Interconnect Agreement on mutually agreed terms or in case the two sides are unable to come to any mutually agreed terms, as per the respondent’s Reference Interconnect Offer (RIO) and to provide to it the content/TV channels under the latter’s control.
NSTPL obtained from the Information and Broadcasting Ministry in 2003 the licence to establish, install, operate and maintain “headends in the sky” system to provide digital cable services in India. Apparently, the licence was granted even before provisions were made for accommodation of the HITS operator in the regulatory framework. Suitable provisions were made in the regulations to accommodate the HITS operators.
NSTPL claimed that it had even got its system checked by the Broadcast Engineering Consultants (India) Ltd.
Hardware
Specs Inc. partners with Qualcomm for next-generation smart glasses
Snap subsidiary to power future Specs with Snapdragon XR platforms.
MUMBAI: Snap’s Specs are about to get a serious upgrade and this time, they’re teaming up with Qualcomm to make sure the future looks crystal clear. Specs Inc., a Snap subsidiary, has announced a multi-year strategic agreement with Qualcomm Technologies to power future generations of its advanced smart eyewear with Snapdragon system-on-a-chip (SoC) technology.
This marks the first flagship engagement for Specs Inc., which is preparing to launch its standalone, see-through smart glasses for consumers later this year. The Specs are designed to seamlessly blend digital experiences into the physical world, allowing users to see, hear, and interact with digital content as if it were part of their real surroundings.
By integrating Snapdragon XR platforms, the glasses will benefit from edge AI and high-performance, low-power computing. This combination enables intelligent, context-aware experiences to run directly on the device, delivering faster and more private interactions.
The partnership builds on more than five years of collaboration between Snap and Qualcomm, during which Snapdragon platforms have powered multiple generations of Snap’s Spectacles.
Snap Inc., co-founder and CEO Evan Spiegel said, “We believe the future of computing will be more human and grounded in the real world. Our work with Qualcomm provides a strong foundation for the future of Specs, bringing advanced technology and performance that pushes the boundaries of what’s possible.”
Qualcomm Incorporated president and CEO Cristiano Amon added, “The next era of computing will be defined by devices that understand what you see, hear and say, and respond instantly to the world around you. Our collaboration on Specs will enable power-efficient interactive AR devices that feel natural and intuitive.”
The agreement establishes a scalable foundation for developers and partners building experiences for Specs, supporting a predictable product roadmap and increasingly sophisticated digital interactions over time.
In a world racing toward augmented reality, Specs Inc. and Qualcomm are ensuring that the next pair of smart glasses doesn’t just look good on paper, they perform brilliantly in real life. The future of wearable computing just got a powerful new lens.
