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Swisscom Mobile is the first firm to acquire live mobile rights for 2006 Fifa WC
MUMBAI: For the first time in its 76 year history, the Fifa World Cup will be broadcast live on mobile phones.
Marketing agency Infront Sports and Media has signed an exclusive agreement with mobile network operator Swisscom Mobile for mobile broadcast rights covering all 64 matches of the event for Switzerland.
Swisscom Mobile is entitled to offer live and/or delayed streaming transmissions of all games to its customers. The transmission is possible over telecommunications networks (e.g. GSM/UMTS) and over digital mobile broadcast systems employing DVB-H or DMB transmission standards.
Swisscom Mobile have also acquired the exclusive rights to transmit near-live and/or delayed video clips of key match footage such as goals via mobile networks to mobile phones. These rights also include access to archive video material of the 2002 Fifa World Cup.
Infront executive director Oliver Seibert said, “The agreement with Swisscom is another ‘first’ in history of Fifa World Cup broadcasting. The fans in Switzerland will be able to enjoy an unprecedented variety of live viewing options delivered through multiple distribution windows.”
Swisscom Mobile is a Swiss mobile communications provider with the best national network coverage. Swisscom Mobile AG belongs to the Swisscom Group at a share of 75 per cent and to the Vodafone Group at 25 per cent. The company has four million customers.
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.
