Cable TV
Fastway to deploy HD STBs with STMicroelectronics’ cable chipsets
MUMBAI: Fastway Digital TV Services, the multi system operator (MSO) operating mostly in Punjab has teamed up with STMicroelectronics for its HD interactive USB DVR set top boxes. They will have STiH273 HD cable chipsets.
This will enable Fastway deliver high quality HD content and access to several value added services including banner advertisements, interactive TV shopping and education services. It will also provide customers a better viewing experience with HD video and interactivity with advantages such as high integration, low power consumption and unmatched coordinated performance of CPU, video decoder and image quality processor.
Key features of the STiH273 chipsets include 1300DMIPs application CPU; integrated 256kB L2 cache increasing CPU performance for rich applications such as HTML5 browser, user interfaces, HD picture-in-picture and PVR; integrated digital video broadcast (DVB-C) demodulator, optimised to work with high-performance external tuners to meet stringent RF performance requirements of Indian cable networks; 16-bit DDR3 SDRAM support, integrated ePhy, no heat-sink for significant bill-of-material saving; Faroudja image quality processing; high quality and robust 1080p AVC (advanced video coding) video decoder with advanced error correction and concealment capabilities; integrated standby controller offering 0.5W standby power consumption with super-fast resume time; and best-in-class advanced security for all major conditional access systems (CAS).
Fastway Digital TV Services managing director Gurdeep Singh said, “Our new HD digital set top boxes benefit from STMicroelectronics’ feature-packed and flexible system-on-chip ICs, enabling an ideal platform to deliver innovative value-added services such as interactive education services, multi-genre digital music service, restaurants and events search guide and games to customers. With strong local support and cooperation from ST, we are well placed to drive digital migration and bring high quality TV solutions to our customers.”
Fastway Digital TV Services CEO Peeush Mahajan added, “STiH273 is clearly the right choice for our latest generation of STBs. ST has helped us create a customised solution optimised for India that helps us enhance customer satisfaction and sustain our leadership edge in our areas of operation.”
STMicroelectronics vice president Greater China and South Asia region and India Design Center director Vivek Sharma said, “We are proud to be part of Fastway’s digital set-top box roll-out that aims to deliver an enhanced viewing experience to millions of homes around India. Fastway’s selection of ST’s set-top box technology underlines our strengths and commitment to supporting the growth of the Indian digital TV market through cooperation with local key players.”
The chipsets are manufactured using 40nm process technology and support an enhanced processing engine with integrated on-chip features that simplify STB design, along with the possibility of a two layer PC board design. It also allows STB manufacturers to use lower-cost memory and minimise system power consumption, optimising total cost of ownership.
MUMBAI: When margins wobble, liquidity talks and in Q3 FY25-26, cash did most of the talking. Den Networks Limited closed the December quarter with consolidated revenue of Rs.251 crore, marginally higher than the previous quarter but down 4 per cent year-on-year, even as profitability stayed resilient on the back of strong cash reserves and disciplined cost control.
Subscription income softened to Rs.98 crore, slipping 3 per cent sequentially and 14 per cent from last year, while placement and marketing income offered some cheer, rising 15 per cent quarter-on-quarter to Rs.148 crore. Total costs climbed faster than revenue, up 7 per cent QoQ to Rs.238 crore, driven largely by higher content costs and operating expenses. As a result, EBITDA dropped sharply to Rs.13 crore from Rs.19 crore in Q2 and Rs.28 crore a year ago, pulling margins down to 5 per cent.
Yet, the bottom line refused to blink. Profit after tax stood at Rs.40 crore, up 15 per cent sequentially and only marginally lower than last year’s Rs.42 crore. A healthy Rs.57 crore in other income helped cushion operating pressure, keeping profit before tax at Rs.48 crore, broadly stable quarter-on-quarter despite the tougher cost environment.
The real headline-grabber, however, sits on the balance sheet. The company remains debt-free, with cash and cash equivalents swelling to Rs.3,279 crore as of December 31, 2025. Net worth rose to Rs.3,748 crore, while online collections accounted for 97 per cent of total receipts, underscoring strong cash discipline across operations, including subsidiaries.
In short, while Q3 showed signs of operating strain, the financial backbone remains solid. With zero gross debt, steady profits and a formidable cash war chest, the company enters the next quarter with flexibility firmly on its side proving that in uncertain markets, balance sheet strength can be the best growth strategy.
