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Inmarsat launches second I-4 satellite
MUMBAI: The launch of Inmarsat’s second I-4 satellite took place on board a Sea Launch Zenit rocket from the Pacific Ocean yesterday.
The size of a London double-decker bus and weighing nearly six tons, once in operation, the Inmarsat-4 (I-4) spacecraft will deliver simultaneous voice and 3G-compatible broadband data services to mobile users across North, Central and South America. The satellite will now begin deployment and testing, with a number of key milestones ahead before being fully-deployed in geostationary orbit, 35,786 kilometres (22,237 miles) above the Equator, over northern Brazil.
The first Inmarsat-4 was launched in March 2005 and is already in commercial service above the Indian Ocean at 64ºE. Together, the two I-4 satellites will be able to deliver Inmarsat’s new Broadband Global Area Network (Bgan) service to 85 per cent of the world’s landmass.
Bgan is an IP and circuit-switched service that will offer voice telephony and a sophisticated range of high-bandwidth services, including internet access, videoconferencing, LAN and other data services, at speeds up to half a megabit per second.
Inmarsat CEO and chairman Andrew Sukawaty says, “The successful launch of the second I-4 satellite means that Inmarsat now has the world’s most sophisticated commercial network for mobile voice and data services. It will support an unprecedented evolution of our services – more than doubling the bandwidth available to our mobile users. It marks the beginning of a new era for Inmarsat, in which we expect to roll out a new range of global mobile services to government, aid, and enterprise users.”
Inmarsat’s I-4 satellites are built by EADS Astrium and are part of an eight-year, $1.5 billion development of Inmarsat’s next-generation satellite network. They are 60 times more powerful and have 20 times more capacity than their predecessors, the Inmarsat-3 satellites.
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.
