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Intelsat to provide satellite-based broadband direct-to-home service in Middle East
LONDON: In a joint venture with Orbit Data Systems Limited (ODSL), Intelsat announced plans for a two-way, satellite-based broadband Internet access service to be available directly to consumers and small office/home office users in the Middle East, today.
According to the multi-year agreement signed, Intelsat will provide the integrated, end-to-end network connectivity, while ODSL will be responsible for sales, marketing and retail distribution of the service in the Middle East region. Intelsat-provided gateway required for ODSL’s service has been installed in Perth, Australia, and is operating a beta service to facilitate the service launch.
The service is expected to be launched later this year and will provide consumers with capabilities for web browsing, email, file transfer, audio/video streaming and distance learning at high speeds, says a company release.
The broadband offering will be provided using a platform based on the data over cable service interface specification (DOCSIS) standard and Ku-band satellite capacity on an Intelsat satellite. Existing DOCSIS technology and software, previously used to support cable-based applications, have been modified by Intelsat’s equipment supplier ViaSat, to enable satellite-based broadband access.
User terminals that incorporate ViaSat’s SurfBeam DOCSIS-based platform will be provided to ODSL by Intelsat. ODSL will be responsible for installing the user terminals and for providing call centers and customer support. ODSL is an affiliate of Orbit Communications Company, a provider of digital pay television services in the Middle East.
According to ODSL general manager Dr Mohammed Omar, “The combination of teamwork and ingenuity from Intelsat and ODSL on this venture will benefit the industry and its customers by making high-speed Internet available to people living in the Middle East. This service is part of the bundled services Orbit intends to provide to its customer base in the region. A partner like Intelsat, with its strong reputation, regional presence and customer focus, is key to our meeting increasing customer demand for high-speed Internet services in the region.”
Says Intelsat COO Ramu Potarazu, “This venture represents a significant commitment to making broadband technologies accessible to people living in regions where terrestrial infrastructure is limited. Intelsat pioneered Internet over satellite, so it is only natural that we’d be the company to take broadband technology to the next level, where it can be easily implemented and available cost-effectively to anyone who needs it.”
According to ViaSat CEO Mark Dankberg, “The deployment of this DOCSIS-based satellite system represents a significant step in working toward establishing a new standard for these types of applications. Additionally, consumers can look forward to paying a lower cost for high-speed access because the SurfBeam terminals are based on the DOCSIS standard, which has been widely used in cable modems worldwide.”
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.
