Hardware
Siti & DishTV opt for Conax conditional access
MUMBAI: The Essel group has been using Conax’s tech for sometime now for its Siti Network (earlier known as Siti Cable). Now the group has extended that partnership for another product for both Siti Network and DTH operator Dish TV India. This time it is for the cardless set top boxes that the two are slated to roll out.
Based on the flagship Conax ContegoTM security hub, the Conax Cardless conditional access (CA) technology will be a key and essential security component integrated in the chipsets, which will enable use of multiple layers of content protection in the new Dish TV India and SITI Networks cardless STBs.
Conax Cardless technology employs a unique combination of hardware security and software security providing a hardware root of trust for the best level of protection. The secure software is executed within a purpose-built hardware protected environment (Secure Execution Environment) within the chipset.
The Conax Cardless technology provides seamless co-existence with legacy smart card population, all based on a single, unified back-end, meaning in any operation only one back-end is necessary
“With the growing competitive landscape in the operator segment, and the need for access to costly premium content and at the same time keeping operational costs low, it is essential to employ flexible solutions that also offer a high level of security as we look to continue to grow our business”, says Dish TV India managing director Jawahar Goel. “Conax has been a long term partner and we believe their strong security solutions will continue to provide an important layer of security to our growing pay-TV business already servicing over 13 million subscribers.”
“As we continue to advance our footprint in the Indian cable TV market and venture into digitization in phase 3 and phase 4 markets it is essential that new and cost-effective security solutions are available to us. SITI Networks is pleased to further its existing relationship with Conax and implement the Conax cardless technology going forward in our markets,” says Siti Networks CEO & executive director V.D. Wadhwa.
“Conax’ long term relationship and partnership with the Essel group reaches a new milestone today as we look to further strengthen both the Dish TV and SITI Networks platforms and help expand its customer base with a new high security, flexible and revolutionary solution,” says Conax president & CEO Morten Solbakken. “With this unique concept they are well positioned to capture additional new market share and protect the premium content demanded by savvy consumers. We are honored to work together with Essel Group in the next step of their journey.”
Hardware
India clears Rs 1.6 lakh crore semiconductor projects under Semicon India
Ten projects cleared as production begins and design ecosystem gathers pace
NEW DELHI: India’s push to become a global electronics powerhouse is gaining momentum, with the Semicon India Programme driving the creation of a full-fledged semiconductor ecosystem from design to manufacturing.
Launched in 2022, the programme aims to build capabilities across the entire value chain, including chip design, fabrication, assembly, testing and packaging. In just four years, the government has approved 10 semiconductor projects with a combined investment commitment of around Rs 1.6 lakh crore.
Two of these facilities have already begun commercial production, including units led by Micron Technology Inc. and Kaynes Technology India Limited. Two more plants are expected to go live later this year, signalling that India’s chip ambitions are moving from blueprint to factory floor.
The broader electronics manufacturing story has also seen sharp growth over the past decade. Production has jumped from roughly Rs 1.9 lakh crore in 2014-15 to about Rs 12 lakh crore in 2024-25, while exports have surged nearly eightfold. Mobile phone manufacturing, once heavily import-dependent, now meets almost all domestic demand and has become a major export driver.
Alongside manufacturing, the government is investing heavily in design capabilities. Through access to advanced chip design tools provided free to 315 universities, students and researchers have clocked over 200 lakh hours of usage. This effort has already resulted in 211 chip tape-outs from 75 institutions.
Support for startups is also picking up pace. Twenty-four chip design projects have been approved, targeting sectors such as surveillance, energy, communications and IoT. Of these, 14 companies have collectively raised over Rs 650 crore in venture funding, while several designs have progressed to fabrication, including at advanced nodes.
To strengthen supply chains, India has also signed semiconductor cooperation agreements with countries including the United States, Japan, the European Union, Singapore and the Netherlands. These partnerships aim to reduce global dependencies while boosting domestic capabilities.
The employment impact is equally significant. The electronics sector now supports an estimated 25 lakh jobs, with mobile manufacturing alone accounting for nearly half. As more semiconductor units come online under the India Semiconductor Mission, indirect job creation across supply chains is expected to rise further.
Sharing these updates in Parliament, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology minister of state Jitin Prasada underscored the government’s focus on building a resilient, end-to-end semiconductor ecosystem.
With factories taking shape, designs moving to silicon and investments flowing in, India’s semiconductor story is steadily shifting gears from ambition to execution.
