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Polarsat to focus on Asia, ME with new company
MONTREAL: Polarsat, a new, privately-held Canadian company focused on the manufacture of satellite communications equipment, has purchased the assets and product lines of the former broadband division of NSI Global
Polarsat is involved in the Very Small Aperture Terminal segment of satellite communications. VSATs allow customers to securely communicate (via voice, data and video) with branch locations anywhere in the world. The company is targetting the emerging markets in India, China, Africa, and the Middle East.
For the recent acquisition, the firm raised $9 million from three investors active in the satellite-communications industry. It also retained key former NSI employees to ensure a smooth transition and rapid startup.
The investors are Telenor Satellite Networks which provides satellite-based communications and services, Infinium (India). and associates which provides telecommunications and VSAT services in the country. and Agilis Communication Technologies, a subsidiary of Singapore Technologies Electronics which is one of the largest electronic system houses in Asia.
Chairman of Agilis Communication Technologies Seah Moon Ming said, “Polarsat’s range of communication products will augment our existing communication solutions. The resulting synergies and expanded line of products will allow us to provide customers around the world with a range of comprehensive communication solutions. This will further grow our business in satellite-based and broadband communications, covering markets in Asia, Europe and the Americas.”
Besides its committment to the VSAT Plus II and FlexiDAMA product lines, Polarsat will now be able to accomplish additional research and development with this development. Analysts peg the global potential for this niche market at $350 US million a year, with a 15 per cent annual growth. Polarsat is aiming to be a major player in the VSAT market.
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.
