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Manthan’s Rs 120 crore SMS deal with IBM
KOLKATA: As part of its ambitious plan to install nearly 3,000,000 set top boxes in the eastern region by end-2014, Kolkata-headquartered cable TV multi-system operator (MSO) Manthan Broadband Services has inked a long-term contract with IBM India for the maintenance of its subscriber management system (SMS).
Sources close to the deal peg its value at approximately Rs 120 crore where IBM has been developing the software for Manthan’s SMS for the past one and a half years.
Indiantelevision.com has learnt that apart from IBM, firms like Magna Quest and Ericsson were also part of the race to win the coveted 10-year contract with Manthan.
When contacted, Manthan director Sudip Ghosh confirmed the news and said: “The system will enable subscribers to exercise their choice of services and budget their bills accordingly. It will also help us manage their accounting and billing of services rendered more effectively in the long term.”
The investment would ensure the best infrastructure including network, encryption, ERP, SMS and call centre, Ghosh said.
An IBM official too concurred: “We are offering a lot of solutions to the company. Yes, we have signed the deal.”
deally, the Digital Addressable Cable TV System (DAS) requires all MSOs to establish a SMS where details of subscribers, including their choice of services like channels and bouquets are maintained. In reality however, many MSOs were not implementing this feature effectively. Also, local cable operators (LCOs) were not providing completed subscriber application forms to their linked MSOs. Reason why the Telecom and Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) directed all registered MSOs and their associated LCOs to ensure SMS was made fully operational. “This would bring in addressability and consequently, complete transparency in the whole system,” opined several cable and entertainment analysts.
Manthan, created back in 2002 through a merger of the operations of nine cable TV operators, today caters to 30 lakh households in the east. The MSO has penetration in areas like Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, Baraipur and Chandannagar among others.
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.
