News Broadcasting
Intelsat to provide satellite internet connectivity to Belgacom
LONDON: Intelsat signed a new multi-transponder agreement with Belgacom, on 25 November 2003. One of the leading Belgian telecom operator, Belgacom moved to Intelsat’s global satellite network, to provide high-speed Internet access to ISPs in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
Belgacom’s C- and Ku-band service use six 72-MHz units of Intelsat capacity. According to a company release the band service is already operational and is designed to provide a high-quality and reliable way for ISPs operating in terrestrially underserved areas of these regions to access the Internet.
With help of the Intelsat service, Belgacom plans to expand its reach and strengthen penetration of the Eastern European and Middle Eastern markets. It utilises a 32 meter C-band antenna from Lessive teleport, in combination with Intelsat space segment.
According to Intelsat’s data, carrier & internet unit regional vice president, Europe sales, Yuli Wexler, “We won this contract because Intelsat’s capacity and flexible solutions can be tailored to fit the exact requirements of our customers. The ability of Intelsat to move, change or adjust our network, as needed, is a significant advantage in a market where other providers don’t necessarily have the freedom to adjust their networks to accommodate service requests.”
News Broadcasting
Network18 Q4 revenue grows 9.7 per cent, EBITDA at Rs 30 crore
PAT improves to Rs 306.6 crore, margins steady amid cost pressures.
MUMBAI: Not all news is breaking, some of it is quietly improving. Network18 Media & Investments Limited appears to be doing just that, tightening losses and stabilising margins even as costs continue to weigh on the business. For FY26, the company reported revenue from operations of Rs 1,955.1 crore, up from Rs 1,896.2 crore in FY25, signalling modest top-line growth in a challenging media environment. Total income stood at Rs 1,978.2 crore, compared to Rs 1,913 crore a year earlier.
Profit after tax came in at Rs 306.6 crore for the year, a sharp turnaround from Rs 3,225.4 crore in FY25, largely reflecting the absence of large exceptional items that had inflated the previous year’s numbers. On a more comparable basis, the company’s operating performance showed signs of gradual stabilisation.
However, the quarterly picture remained under pressure. For the March quarter, Network18 reported a loss of Rs 53.1 crore, narrower than the Rs 98.1 crore loss in the same period last year, but still indicative of ongoing cost challenges.
Expenses continued to track high. Total expenses for FY26 stood at Rs 2,235.7 crore, up from Rs 2,197.8 crore in FY25. Key cost heads included operational expenses of Rs 765.9 crore, employee benefits of Rs 475.9 crore, and marketing, distribution and promotional spends of Rs 427.1 crore, underlining the continued investment required to sustain reach and engagement.
At an operating level, margins remained under strain. Operating margin stood at 2.33 per cent for FY26, marginally higher than 1.77 per cent in FY25, while net profit margin remained negative at -13.02 per cent, though improved from -14.89 per cent.
On the balance sheet, total assets rose to Rs 8,957.6 crore as of 31 March 2026, from Rs 8,317.5 crore a year earlier. Equity strengthened to Rs 4,958.7 crore, while borrowings increased to Rs 3,112.8 crore, reflecting a higher reliance on debt to support operations.
Cash flows told a mixed story. While financing activities generated Rs 83.9 crore, operating cash flow remained negative at Rs -24 crore, highlighting ongoing pressure on core cash generation. Cash and cash equivalents, however, improved to Rs 33.9 crore from Rs 1.8 crore.
The numbers point to a company in transition growing revenues, trimming losses, but still grappling with structural cost pressures. In a sector where scale often comes at a price, Network18 seems to be inching towards balance, one quarter at a time.
