Cable TV
Ortel Broadband launches 50 Mbps DOCSIS 3.0 internet
MUMBAI: Ortel Communications has introduced 50 Mbps mega speed DOCSIS 3.0 broadband internet in Odisha. While initially being deployed in Bhubaneswar, the service will be made available in other markets as well.
DOCSIS 3.0 allows a much higher throughput compared to the earlier versions by using multi-channel bonding simultaneously for download/upload.
Ortel Communications president and CEO Bibhu Prasad Rath said, “We are happy to launch mega speed broadband services of up to 50 Mbps on DOCSIS 3.0 technology. This will redefine the consumer experience of internet usage and we believe that mega speed internet at low cost will revolutionize the internet markets that we are present in. We intend to aggressively pursue this in our markets which will help us increase the overall broadband subscriber base. The company plans to actively deploy DOCSIS 3.0 modems to deliver impressive internet surfing experience to its subscribers. With faster digitization of cable TV customers, we will be in a strong position to leverage the opportunity by offering COMBO plans of Digital TV and Internet connections.”
DOCSIS technology has been developed by CableLabs, an International consortium of cable operators and MSOs, and approved by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU-T). This technology has been widely used in Europe and USA by leading ISPs.
The internet subscribers in India have evolved over a period of time and Ortel Broadband has launched the mega speed broadband internet plans to cater to subscribers who have increased video led internet consumption. HD video content viewings as well as increased download speeds are the main benefits of DOCSIS 3.0 mega speed Ortel Broadband. Higher end online gaming responses will be almost real time. Ortel Broadband DOCSIS 3.0 subscribers can download a movie of 750 MB in two minutes and video songs can be downloaded within seconds based on the plans selected and system configuration.
The company has invested in laying its own network with reverse path compatibility making it capable of providing Triple play service including broadband and VoIP services.
Cable TV
Hathway Cable appoints Gurjeev Singh Kapoor as CEO
Leadership change comes as cable TV faces shrinking subscriber base and modest earnings pressure
MUMBAI: Hathway Cable and Datacom has tapped industry veteran Gurjeev Singh Kapoor as chief executive officer, marking a leadership pivot at a time when India’s cable television business is under mounting strain.
Kapoor will take over from Tavinderjit Singh Panesar, who is set to retire in August after a long innings with the company. Panesar, chief executive since 2023, has held multiple leadership roles at Hathway, including his latest stint beginning in 2022.
Kapoor brings more than three decades of experience in media and entertainment. He most recently led distribution at The Walt Disney Company’s Star India business, now part of JioStar. His career spans television distribution and affiliate partnerships, with stints at Sony Pictures Networks India, Discovery Communications and Zee Entertainment.
Panesar, with over three decades in the industry, has worked across strategic planning, distribution and business development in media, broadcasting and manufacturing. His past associations include ESPN Star Sports, Star India, Apollo Tyres and JK Industries.
The transition lands as the cable sector grapples with structural disruption. Traditional operators are losing ground to streaming platforms, while telecom and broadband players tighten the squeeze with bundled offerings.
An EY report estimates India’s pay-TV base could shrink by a further 30 to 40 million households by 2030, taking the total down to 71 to 81 million. The slide follows a loss of nearly 40 million homes between 2018 and 2024, a contraction that has already wiped out more than 37,000 jobs in the local cable operator ecosystem.
Hathway’s numbers reflect the strain. The company reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 93 crore for FY25, down from Rs 99 crore a year earlier. Revenue inched up to Rs 2,040 crore from Rs 1,981 crore. As of December 2025, it had about 4.7 million cable TV subscribers and roughly 1.02 million broadband users.
Kapoor steps in with a familiar brief but a shrinking playbook. In a market where viewers are cutting cords faster than companies can reinvent them, the new chief executive inherits a business fighting to stay plugged in.
