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Intelsat 10-02 satellite launch successful
MUMBAI: Intelsat announced today that its IS-10-02 satellite was successfully launched aboard an ILS Proton launch vehicle from the Baikonur Cosmodrone, Kazakhstan.
The satellite is expected to become operational this August.
Once in position at 359ºE, the IS-10-02 satellite will offer capacity for video, Internet, corporate networks, telephony and hybrid space/terrestrial solutions to customers on its 70 C-band and 36 Ku-band transponders (measured in 36 MHz equivalent units). The satellite will provide high power Ku-band spot beam coverage for Europe and the Middle East, ideally suited to support corporate VSATs, broadcast content distribution and broadband applications, including high-speed Internet access, multicasting and streaming; and C-band capacity to customers in South America, Europe, Africa and portions of Asia and North America, a company release says.
The IS-10-02 satellite will replace the IS-707, which currently holds the 359ºE orbital slot but will be moved to a new location at 307ºE to support customer demand in the Americas, Europe and Africa.
Approximately 50 per cent of the satellite’s Ku-band transponders are owned by the Norwegian company Telenor Broadcast Holdings AS, through its subsidiary Telenor Satellite Broadcasting, the leading satellite operator and satellite services provider in the Nordic Countries, and a long-standing customer of Intelsat. Canal Digital AS, the largest distributor of pay-TV services in the Nordic market together with other customers will use the satellite for television, broadband, voice, data and Internet applications in Europe and the Middle East.
Intelsat, Ltd CEO Conny Kullman was quoted as saying, “The successful launch of the IS-10-02 – the most powerful spacecraft in our global fleet – demonstrates Intelsat’s commitment to engineering excellence. This successful launch, celebrated during the year of Intelsat’s 40th anniversary, reinforces our historic commitment to delivering the highest quality communications and technology to our customers throughout the world.”
Stig Eide Sivertsen, CEO of Telenor Broadcast said “We have enjoyed working with Intelsat over the years and especially on the procurement of this satellite. Its new high power footprint will help provide competitive advantage for us and our customers in Europe and the Middle East.”
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.
