News Broadcasting
Gilat Satellite Networks claims India’s leading VSAT provider status
Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. has announced it has expanded its business operations in India and is now India’s leading VSAT provider.
The company provides satellite-based, end-to-end enterprise networking and rural telephony solutions to customers across six continents, and markets interactive broadband data services, an official release says.
According to the May 2002 issue of India’s Voice & Data magazine, Gilat captured nearly 70 per cent of the market for Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) VSATs for the period April 2001 through March 2002.
Bharti Broadband Networks was the first company in India to choose the 360E platform and eventually established for its client Sahara India one of the largest shared hub systems in Indian VSAT history, the release says. Within the past several months, Bharti Broadband Networks has secured orders for more than 3,000, 360E VSATs – including 1,420 sites for Sahara India alone.
Through the two-way VSAT network Sahara India expects to expand the scope of applications to Internet access, tele-education and news gathering. The VSAT network is crucial to Sahara India’s plans to launch a national news channel and 37 independent city-based regional news stations in the next few months.
Earlier this year, Bharti Broadband launched its Skymantra-Power Internet service – based on the 360E platform – for the corporate, small-to-medium enterprise (SME) and small office-home office (SOHO) markets.
Bharti Broadband CEO Ashok Juneja said: “Indian businesses now have access to extremely robust and scalable technology that provides the true broadband experience, regardless of geographic location. That is where our Skymantra-Power Internet service excels.”
In the most recent new-contract development, Gilat has been selected by HCL Comnet to provide a 360E satellite hub station and 500 VSAT terminals. HCL Comnet has also completed the deployment of a nationwide, 600-site broadband satellite communications network for the State Bank of India.
Comsat Max, another long-standing customer of Gilat in India, chose the 360E platform in October 2001 and has already purchased 1,000 units.
Erez Antebi, Gilat’s general manager for Asia, Africa and Pacific Rim, said: “India continues to fulfill its promise as one of the world’s fastest-growing markets for VSAT technology. With the acquisition of the 360E platform by three major VSAT service providers in India, we have completed our consolidation of the TDMA segment in the country.”
News Broadcasting
News18 India launches Command Centre war explainer with Arya
New show shifts from debates to decoding global conflicts and impacts
MUMBAI: News18 India has rolled out a new war-focused programme, Command Centre, featuring Gaurav Arya, as it looks to offer viewers a sharper, more grounded take on global conflicts amid rising tensions in West Asia.
Positioned as an “insider war room”, the show moves away from conventional panel debates and instead focuses on explaining military developments, decoding strategy and connecting global events to their everyday impact, from fuel prices to economic shifts.
The format leans heavily on visuals and data. The studio has been designed like a command hub, complete with large LED war maps, real-time graphics and an alert system to track developments as they unfold.
At the centre of it all is Arya, who brings his military background to simplify complex war strategies for viewers. His signature line, “Seedhi baat samjhiye”, anchors the show’s promise of clarity over noise.
News18 India managing editor Jyoti Kamal said, “Command Centre, featuring Major Gaurav Arya is designed to deliver accurate insights and a clear perspective on how evolving conflicts impact everyday life, from household budgets to national security. With expert voices analysing every development in real time, the show goes beyond headlines to decode what’s happening now, what it means, and what could come next.”
Echoing the intent, Gaurav Arya added, “In times of war, confusion is the biggest threat. With News18 India’s Command Centre, we are bringing viewers inside the war room, decoding strategies, tracking every escalation, and explaining, in the simplest terms, what it means for India and for every household. Seedhi baat samjhiye, this is where you understand not just what is happening, but what happens next.”
The weekday show will air in the afternoon slot and will also feature Gaurav Shukla, adding to its editorial depth.
With its mix of analysis, visuals and a clear focus on impact, the show reflects a broader shift in news consumption. Viewers are no longer just watching events unfold, they are looking to understand what those events mean for them.
