Cable TV
Ortel appoints Jiji John as vice president – broadband
MUMBAI: Ortel Communications has appointed Jiji John as vice president of broadband business with effect from 1 June, 2015.
John has more than 18 years of experience in strategic planning, sales, marketing and business development.
Prior to joining Ortel, John was vice president at Asianet Broadband, which is a division of Asianet Satellite Communications.
During his career, he has held various positions with telecom and ISP companies like Escotel Mobile Communications (currently Idea Cellular) and Sify Technologies amongst others.
Ortel Communications president & CEO Bibhu Prasad Rath said, “We are delighted to welcome Jiji John as VP of our Broadband Business. His rich experience and deep understanding of the sector would help Ortel strengthen its position in the segment where the Company is targeting a notable increase in the number of broadband subscribers over the next few years. Jiji will play a crucial role in driving growth and profitability of the Broadband Business which remains a key focus for Ortel.”
MUMBAI: When margins wobble, liquidity talks and in Q3 FY25-26, cash did most of the talking. Den Networks Limited closed the December quarter with consolidated revenue of Rs.251 crore, marginally higher than the previous quarter but down 4 per cent year-on-year, even as profitability stayed resilient on the back of strong cash reserves and disciplined cost control.
Subscription income softened to Rs.98 crore, slipping 3 per cent sequentially and 14 per cent from last year, while placement and marketing income offered some cheer, rising 15 per cent quarter-on-quarter to Rs.148 crore. Total costs climbed faster than revenue, up 7 per cent QoQ to Rs.238 crore, driven largely by higher content costs and operating expenses. As a result, EBITDA dropped sharply to Rs.13 crore from Rs.19 crore in Q2 and Rs.28 crore a year ago, pulling margins down to 5 per cent.
Yet, the bottom line refused to blink. Profit after tax stood at Rs.40 crore, up 15 per cent sequentially and only marginally lower than last year’s Rs.42 crore. A healthy Rs.57 crore in other income helped cushion operating pressure, keeping profit before tax at Rs.48 crore, broadly stable quarter-on-quarter despite the tougher cost environment.
The real headline-grabber, however, sits on the balance sheet. The company remains debt-free, with cash and cash equivalents swelling to Rs.3,279 crore as of December 31, 2025. Net worth rose to Rs.3,748 crore, while online collections accounted for 97 per cent of total receipts, underscoring strong cash discipline across operations, including subsidiaries.
In short, while Q3 showed signs of operating strain, the financial backbone remains solid. With zero gross debt, steady profits and a formidable cash war chest, the company enters the next quarter with flexibility firmly on its side proving that in uncertain markets, balance sheet strength can be the best growth strategy.
