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Conax all-inclusive DRM portfolio for Latin America now includes in-the-cloud solutions for pay-TV operators and content distributors
MUMBAI: S?o Paulo, Brazil, August 5th, 2013: ABTA 2013 Expo & Conference — Conax, a leading global provider of solutions for securing multi-device and digital video content distribution, today announced an all-inclusive strategy for the Latin America pay-TV market. In addition to the recent announcements of secure DRM deployments at Cablemás, Nuevo Siglo and Montecable, content protection specialist Conax is partnering with systems integrator Bold MSS for a hosted IPTV solution, based on Conax Contego Unite™ and including middleware from Cubiware. Now operators of all sizes can readily embrace new pay-TV solutions, launching advanced platforms with low capital expenditure while positioning for market-differentiating offers such as OTT VOD and multiscreen services.
Bold MSS will provide a hosted IPTV solution designed for smaller Latin America operators keen to embrace VOD and other interactive services enabling enhanced consumer offerings. In addition to the expertise provided by the highly skilled technicians at Bold MSS, the new service will include world-class security from Conax and market-leading middleware from Cubiware.
“We are very excited by the tremendous demand for advanced services in Latin America and the opportunity to help operators grow. When selecting a security solution, operators should choose a partner with a solid security history and a long record of profitability to assure themselves a strong future. To help operators yield profits on their OTT investments, Conax is cultivating strategic partnerships to enable highly diverse pay-TV market segments to earn on advanced On-demand offerings – through flexible, fast-to-market and secure DRM solutions,” says Rohit Mehra, VP Americas, Conax.
Together with Bold MSS and strategic partners, Conax is offering a highly unique portfolio of advanced content security solutions tailored for the varying needs of operators and providers of pay-content delivery in varying market segments.
Secure solutions for all sizes of operations
Latin American operators of all sizes can maintain and increase their market share and make money by enabling a unique consumer experience by adding new features and solutions, through deployment of market differentiating services such as VOD, Live TV, and multiscreen offerings for a growing ecosystem of broadband-savvy consumers. Conax is offering operators secure, Hybrid OTT solutions with fast time-to-market at reduced costs allowing operators to profit on multiscreen content. A sample of solutions offered by Conax:
1) Conax Xtend Multiscreen™: Pre-integrated solution with fast time-to-market, based on Conax Contego Unite™ secure DRM, chosen by Cablem?s, Mexico
2) Conax Contego Unite™ – highly flexible OTT solution based on 25 years of market-leading experience and security track record, selected by Nuevo Siglo and Montecable
3) Hosted secure IPTV Solution, based on Conax Contego Unite™ and hosted by Bold MSS, for smaller operators in Latin America looking to enhance their broadband offerings by including pay-TV and On -demand services
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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.
