News Headline
Satellite communication industry promotes competition in India
MUMBAI: Indias satellite broadcasting and telecommunications industries gave renewed support to optimising regulations for satellite services within India.
A meeting attended by members of the VSAT Services Association of India (VSAI), the Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (Casbaa) and the Global VSAT Forum (GVF) exchanged views and information with the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) and Indias Department of Telecommunications (DoT) on the expansion of Indias access to competitively priced satellite communications services.
At the summit conclusion, the private sector was unanimous in its support for the Trai-based recommendation that an ‘Open Skies’ satellite services policy should be implemented without delay.
“Satellite services underpin Indias communications infrastructure and have the potential to revolutionise the publics access to new and exciting interactive media and telecommunications, said VSAI secretary general B G Bhalla.
“Underlying the meeting recommendations was one incontestable fact. There is a huge pent-up demand within India for satellite services which cannot be met in the current regulatory environment,” said Casbaa CEO Simon Twiston Davies.
“Broadcast channels supported by bandwidth-hungry high definition TV and interactive telecommunications services cannot be deployed unless there is significant additional satellite inventory made available within India, said GVF secretary general David Hartshorn.
During the summit, the private sector called upon the government of India to implement a Trai recommendation that an ‘Open Skies’ policy should be adopted for direct-to-home (DTH) and VSAT operators similar to that available to ISPs. According to Trai: DTH and VSAT providers “should be allowed to work directly with any international satellite.”
According to a joint Casbaa-GVF paper released during the meeting, with new supply of DTH and VSAT capacity limited to a best-case total of 36 new government-sanctioned transponders for India over the next three years, the ability of any company wishing to use Indian uplinked DTH or VSAT services will be severely limited.
The meeting of more than 25 industry leaders and government officials debated the opportunities for satellite services that are fast emerging as Indias communications sector digitises and introduces new consumer services. Without change in government policy, Indias communications industry will under-perform on the promise of the digital revolution, according to the satellite industry executives.
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.
