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WorldSpace signs Webel to spruce up its technology
MUMBAI: WorldSpace, Inc., the satellite-based digital radio services has announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, WorldSpace India Pvt. Ltd., has signed up with Webel Mediatronics Ltd.
This move means that WorldSpace India is looking at further investments for launching an array of new services. Along with Webel Mediatronics, Worldspace will explore technology transfer for the assembly, installation and commissioning of a broadcast infrastructure, including gap fillers, that work in conjunction with the WorldSpace Satellite Radio offering.
The companies will explore development and deployment in India and also target other WorldSpace markets.
According to an official release, WorldSpace chose to collaborate with Webel based on the company’s 25-year history of technology innovation. Webel, which pioneered the manufacture of studio equipment such as audio mixing consoles, broadcast-grade CD players and community radio systems in India, has supplied products to Doordarshan Kendras and All India Radio (AIR) stations across the country.
“We are committed to extending the WorldSpace experience across India and throughout the world. We view our new arrangement with Webel as an investment that will position the company to continue growing our global subscriber base and potentially accelerate our business roll out,” said WorldSpace chairman and CEO Noah Samara.
What clearly distinguishes WorldSpace Satellite Radio from any other offerings in India and across its target areas is its wide variety of audio content. With more than 40 radio stations that span musical genres, news, sports and information; WorldSpace offers unsurpassed choice and digital-sound quality to its subscribers.
WorldSpace provides content, which is a combination of local programming, original WorldSpace content and content from leading brands around the globe including the BBC, CNN, Virgin Radio UK, NDTV and RFI.
West Bengal IT minister Manabendra Mukherjee added, “Webel has emerged as one of the most progressive entities in the country today and they have proved it yet again. Not only will this cooperation bring in the latest technology to India but also our people can develop it further for the benefit of masses. This MOU, when acted upon, can generate significant valuable foreign exchange for the country.”
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.
