News Broadcasting
Tektronix to help China set up digital broadcasting research and development lab
Tektronix, the video test, measurement, and monitoring solutions company, will partner with the Academy of Broadcasting Science (ABS) to establish a national digital broadcasting research and development laboratory for China’s broadcast industry.
ABS is a part of the Chinese State Administration of Radio, Film, and TV (SARFT). According to an official release, the acceleration of TV digitisation, the maturation of video technology and the demands for China’s television system to be upgraded has led the Chinese government to recognise the need to establish a digital TV testing lab that can accelerate the digitisation of the country’s television industry.
Tektronix claims its award-winning solutions fulfill ABS’ requirements to test and monitor a variety of signal formats. Tektronix’ equipment will provide reliable evidence whether the country’s consumers are receiving good digital video quality, whether the video is being broadcast in standard – or in high-definition.
The Institute of Standardization and Planning, a department within ABS, will use the new Tektronix WFM700M multi-format waveform monitors, MTG300 MPEG-2 generators, VM700T video measurement sets, MTS300 MPEG test systems, and TG2000 signal generation platforms in the lab. The equipment will be used to test specific characteristics of digital TV modulation and transmission, provide performance testing of digital TV decoders and set-top boxes, subjectively evaluate picture quality, and analyze the structure of the video signal.
Tektronix solutions will also be used in conformance testing, software evaluation, and will provide built-in system testing of digital TV products. The award-winning WFM700M is a measurement-quality multi-format waveform monitor that provides for the evaluation of the digital transport layer and digital analysis capabilities important in design, installation, and maintenance of 270MB and 1.485 GB component digital systems, says the release.
The TG2000 is a programmable, multi-format test signal generation platform that provides reference-quality test signals in both the analog and digital domain. It is used to generate standardised test signals for installation, timing and sync, maintenance, and design evaluation applications. The MTS300 MPEG test system, based on Emmy(R) award-winning technology, provides comprehensive analysis of MPEG-2 transport streams, while the MTG300 MPEG generator is a flexible, cost-effective source of MPEG-2 transport streams for design evaluation and conformance testing of compressed digital video products.
Established 44 years ago, ABS has completed many big projects such as the definition of black-and-white TV, color TV, frequency modulation broadcasting module and the building of preliminary broadcasting system in China.
News Broadcasting
Induction cooktop demand spikes 30× amid LPG supply concerns
Supply worries linked to West Asia tensions push households and restaurants to turn to electric cooking alternatives
MUMBAI: As geopolitical tensions in West Asia ripple through global energy supply chains, the familiar blue flame in Indian kitchens is facing an unexpected challenger: electricity.
What began as concerns over the availability of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has quickly evolved into a technology-driven shift in cooking habits. Households across India are increasingly turning to induction cooktops and other electric appliances, initially as a backup but now, for many, a necessity.
A sudden surge in demand
Recent data from quick-commerce and grocery platform BigBasket highlights the scale of the shift. According to Seshu Kumar Tirumala, the company’s chief buying and merchandising officer, demand for induction cooktops has risen dramatically.
“Induction cooktops have seen a significant surge in demand, recording a fivefold jump on 10 March and a thirtyfold spike on 11 March,” Tirumala said.
The increase stands out sharply when compared with broader kitchen appliance trends. Most appliance categories are growing within 10 per cent of their typical demand levels, while induction cooktops have witnessed explosive growth as households rush to secure an alternative cooking option.
Major e-commerce platforms including Amazon and Flipkart have reported rising searches and orders for induction stoves. Quick-commerce apps such as Blinkit and Zepto have also witnessed stock shortages in major metropolitan areas including Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
What was once considered a convenient appliance for hostels, small kitchens or occasional use has suddenly become an essential addition in many homes.
A crisis thousands of miles away
The trigger for this shift lies far beyond India’s kitchens.
Escalating conflict in the Middle East has disrupted shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. Nearly 85 to 90 per cent of India’s LPG imports pass through this narrow waterway, making the country particularly vulnerable to supply disruptions.
The ripple effects have been swift.
India currently meets roughly 60 per cent of its LPG demand through imports, and tightening global supply has already begun to affect domestic availability and prices.
Earlier this month, the price of domestic LPG cylinders increased by Rs 60, while commercial cylinders rose by more than Rs 114.
To discourage panic buying and hoarding, the government has also extended the mandatory waiting period between domestic refill bookings from 21 days to 25 days.
Restaurants feel the pressure
The strain is not limited to households. Restaurants, hotels and roadside eateries are also grappling with supply constraints as commercial LPG availability tightens under restrictions imposed through the Essential Commodities Act.
In cities such as Bengaluru and Chennai, restaurant associations report that commercial LPG availability has dropped by as much as 75 per cent, forcing many establishments to rethink their kitchen operations.
Some restaurants have reduced menu offerings, while others are rapidly installing high-efficiency induction systems, creating hybrid kitchens where electricity now shares the workload with gas.
For smaller eateries and roadside dhabas, the shift is less about sustainability and more about survival.
A potential structural shift
The government has maintained that there is no nationwide LPG crisis and has directed refineries to increase production to stabilise supply.
Nevertheless, the developments of March 2026 may already be triggering a longer-term behavioural shift.
For decades, LPG has been the backbone of cooking in Indian households. However, recent disruptions have highlighted the risks of relying on a single fuel source.
Increasingly, households appear to be hedging against uncertainty by adopting electric cooking options to guard against price volatility and delivery delays.
If the current trend continues, the induction cooktop, once viewed as a niche appliance, could emerge as a quiet symbol of India’s evolving kitchen economy.
