Cable TV
Ortel plans Rs 300 cr investment to improve efficiency & reach
MUMBAI: Odisha’s largest multi-system operator (MSO) Ortel Communications plans to invest Rs 300 crore on expansion over the next two years. Ortel CEO BP Rath said it would utilise IPO proceeds, internal accrual, debt and equity to meet its need.
Ortel, a regional cable television service-provider, is engaged in the distribution of analog and digital cable television services, high-speed broadband services & Voice over Internet Protocol services. Currently focused in the states of Orissa, Chhattishgarh, Andra Pradesh, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh & West Bengal, Ortel focuses on building a two-way state-of-the-art communication network enabled for ‘Triple Play’ services (video , data, and voice capabilities) with control over the ‘last mile’ .
Rath said that Ortel would be making the investment on upgrading and expansing its infrastructure. The investment would help strengthen Ortel’s efficiency, reach and competitiveness. Ortel, which manages 90 per cent of its subscribers directly, in September last year, had a subs base of around 805,000.
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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.
