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Tag: ABS

  • FTA channel Hare Krsna TV aims to specialise in motivational talks

    FTA channel Hare Krsna TV aims to specialise in motivational talks

    MUMBAI: Mumbai-based surgeon Dr Bimal Shah runs Hare Krsna TV, a free to air (FTA) satellite TV channel. Being a self-funded channel run for social service, several cable operators carry it without a carriage fee. However, the challenge has been with the bigger names in cable and DTH, who are hesitant.

    Shah says, “I believe running a channel is the highest form of social service as it caters to both the rich and poor.  A lot of money is spent on content and broadcasting. Cable operators can also be benefitted by carrying this channel because it is unique in its approach and it is not like other devotional channels. Cable operators will have some good content in their bouquet to offer the viewers and eventually retain their subscribers.”

    The channel sources, curates and processes content from the worldwide centres of The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). The programming lineup consists of temple darshan from various centres of ISKCON, morning darshan and all the aartis. Besides this, a major portion of the programming includes music and satsang. The footages are acquired from 600 ISKCON centres in the world. Considering the pandemic, the channel has had to install multiple camera setup in various ISKCON centres across India for the live feed. Through this medium Shah wants to highlight the importance of Indian and Indo-western culture.

    He adds, “Our channel doesn’t just talk about Bhagwat Geeta or our Puranas, but it also conducts a lot of motivational talks that connect to the youth. ISKCON is just not synchronised on religion; we all teach about ancient Vedic philosophies. The content is curated in such a way that could interest all sections of society. It is very similar to other motivational speakers like Jay Shetty and Gaur Gopal Das. It has a lot of practical implementation in day to day life.”

    Shah wants to make Hare Krsna TV as a specialised channel which talks about motivational speeches. According to him, unlike in the western world, there is no Indian channel that caters to the need of youth in terms of philosophical topics. He also clarifies that there is no political agenda to start the channel. To provide maximum viewing experience, the channel is also ad-free. It doesn’t even have tele-shoppe or any other kind of promotional shows.

    A major part of the funding is done by Shah and his wife and the rest is done with the help of donations. The couple has been associated with ISKCON for more than 34 years.

    A team of 31 employees, also ISKCON followers, handle the channel. Technical aspects are looked after by a third-party company named Skandha and satellite broadcasting work is handled by Lamhas.

    Launched as a local channel in 2016, Hare Krsna acquired the satellite licence last year. On 11 August 2020 Hare Krsna TV will complete four years since its launch. The channel is currently present in 25 million households.

    NXT DIGITAL, GTPL – KCBPL, ORTEL, APFiber, UCN, Siti Maurya Cable, Siti Siri Digital Network, Siti Cable, Hathway MCN,  Den Satellite, DL GTPL, JPR, Bhima Riddhi Infotainment, Take One JK Media, Inspire Digital, Satellite Cable, DDC, Umbrella Cable Systems, Skynet Digital, BRDS and others.

    The channel is present in Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Goa, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala, Maharashtra and several other states.

  • Did govt pressure nudge ABS-2 to shutter Indian TV channels on FTA DTH service?

    Did govt pressure nudge ABS-2 to shutter Indian TV channels on FTA DTH service?

    NEW DELHI: ABS has closed the doors from 1 May 2018 on Indian TV channels that were using the ABS-2 satellite-beamed FTA Ku-band platform. Apparent reason: Indian government pressure on local TV channels to stop using the ‘unlicenced’ platform that discouraged payment of carriage fee to the satellite operator, which was the origin of the business.

    The Bermuda-registered satellite operator’s ABS-2 signals — hosting on its South Asian beam a Nepalese and a Bangladeshi DTH services licenced in their respective countries — have been spilling over into India and a mix of Indian, Nepalese and Bangladeshi TV channels were available to Indians as a FTA service that was accessed via some plain vanilla hardware (read set-top boxes and antennae) at a nominal cost.

    On being petitioned by Indian distribution platforms, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) in 2017 had asked Department of Space (DoS) to block the “unauthorised” DTH or KU-band ABS-2 service on the grounds of possible threat to national security — an allegation that was refuted by ABS citing international laws of ITU.

    Finally, when ABS took the decision to shut the doors on the Indian TV channels, there were 90 of them, mostly beaming content in non-Hindi Indian languages. These channels were using the FTA Ku-band platform to reach not only Indian audiences in southern and eastern parts of India but, probably, also those in Nepal and Bangladesh for additional eyeballs. Eyeballs meant advertising revenue for these TV channels.

    ABS last year had refuted Indian government charges saying “natural spillover” of satellite signals into neighbouring countries, outside the service area of the countries offering licensed DTH services, but falling within the coverage area of the satellite, was in “full compliance” of ITU provisions.

    With ABS discontinuing the Indian TV channels, Reliance Big TV (sold by Anil Ambani’s Reliance Communications to new investors) FTA DTH service yet to fully bloom and Doordarshan’s FreeDish platform locked in a policy logjam, free to air platforms and low-cost television viewing for people in the Indian hinterland seem to have run into air turbulence.

    According to industry experts, Indian hardware companies had devised a way to have two LNBs (low-noise box) in one single DTH antenna that was capable of receiving both ABS-2 and DD FreeDish services, resulting in sizable popularity of these two platforms that were accessed via a low-cost hardware. This was unlike the full-fledged subscription-based DTH services made available by the likes of Tata Sky, Dish TV, Videocon d2h and Sun TV.

    Also Read :

    Block illegal DTH FTA, space dept told

    Could India blocking ABS’ FTA TV signals lead to breach of ITU norms?

    Boeing delivers ABS-2A to optimise video services, DTH

  • CASBAA Sat Forum: Innovation at every level vital, b’band driving HTS, a maturing tech

    MUMBAI: “There have been more dramatic changes in the global satellite industry in the past two years than we have been seen in the last twenty-five,” said SES Networks’ CEO Steve Collar, at the close of the CASBAA Satellite Industry Forum 2017 in Singapore.

    That comment summarised nine hours of high-octane insights, statements and data downloads testing the temperature of the Asian satellite market at CASBAA’s 17th annual meeting of satellite executives, engineers and investors.

    “This has been an energising, challenging day which laid out the immediate and long-term opportunities and challenges for the satellite sector in Asia in terms of both commercial and technical issues,” said CASBAA CEO, Christopher Slaughter. “We have been given a lot to think about. Innovation at every level must be at the heart of all our businesses.”

    According to keynote speaker – AsiaSat CEO Andrew Jordan, video distribution via satellite represents some 70% of revenues for most geo-satellite operators in the region with Ultra High Definition (UHD) and 4K services “all the rage” despite representing a less than 20% transition from Standard Definition services in Asia. “Mobility and broadband are the latest must-have applications, driving HTS (High Throughput Satellites) which is a maturing technology with enormous promise,”

    The potential benefits and disadvantages of HTS and “cut-throat” competition were an overarching theme of the conference, which also covered such items as in-flight connectivity, maritime services, reusable launch vehicles, flat panel antennas, new satellite manufacturing processes and the on-going promise of the satellite market in India.

    Some quotable quotes:

    From the Operators
    · There are 600 million households out there without TV. The opportunity for satellite remains enormous – Tom Choi, ABS
    · When the millennials start families they are like the rest of US. They slump back on their settees – Andrew Jordan, AsiaSat
    · If we don’t play in the 5G space other technologies will take over for sure – Deepak Mather, SES

    From the Manufacturers
    · Our customers are increasingly asking for Flexible, Refreshable, Blended Constellations that will last forever. It’s all over the map – Dawn Harms, Boeing Satellite
    · Manufacturers also need to help with the ground segment – Tony Colucci, VP Sales, SSL
    · From GEO to LEO . . . It’s a cultural difference – Tony Colucci, SSL
    · To provide for the “extended life” of a satellites (maybe to match the life of a co-located satellite) GEO manufacturers need agree on a standardized USB for in-orbit connectivity – Olivier Guilbert, Thales Alenia
    · Now we must be “Datacentric”, Tony Colucci, SSL

    From the Customers
    · We are now entering uncharted territory – Chris Baugh, Northern Sky Research
    · Competition is fierce – PJ Beylier, Speedcast
    · Consolidation is coming, but it must be at the operator level – Deepakajit Singh, Encompass Media
    · Transponder costs may yet fall by 30%-40% — Deepak Singh, Encompass

    On HTS
    · HTS is the thing — Tony Colucci, SSL
    · It’s not just about providing highest throughput, it’s about jointly driving the ecosystem to make it more efficient – Elias Zaccack, SES

    On Flat Panels
    · We need multi frequency, multi-beam spectrum. The ability to switch between Ka to KU via LEO or GEO is crucial — John Finney, Isotropic
    · It’s more complicated than almost anybody thought a few years ago – Susan Bull, Comsys
    · People aren’t going to buy a flat-panel antenna just because it’s pretty! — Alvaro Sanchez, Intergrasys

    The Launch Panel
    · Our objective is to relaunch the rocket after one hour — Jonathan Hofeller, SpaceX
    · Launch, Re-fuel and re-launch — Jonathan Hofeller, SpaceX
    · They say there will be 24,000 LEO launches in the next while. What about space junk? – Peter Jackson, PJ Square
    · Less price, more performance! That is what we will deliver ,– Tom Carroll, ILS International

    On India
    · Digitise, digitise, digitise! But when can we monetize? – Ashok Mansukhani, Hinduja Media
    · India is a country where stats sarely make sense — Ashok Mansukhani
    · The DTH industry will remain a volume-led market for the next 5 years – Vivek Coutop, MPA

    The CASBAA Satellite Industry Forum 2017 also appreciates the generous support of the sponsors for this year’s event:

    ABS, APSTAR, Arianespace, AsiaSat, Boeing Satellite Systems, COMSYS, Effective Space, Eutelsat, Gogo, Intergrasys , International Launch Services (ILS), Marsh, MEASAT, Newtec, NorthTelecom, SES, SKY Perfect JSAT, SpaceX and SSL.

  • ABS partners PT Sarana Media to launch Indonesian DTH FreeViews platform

    ABS partners PT Sarana Media to launch Indonesian DTH FreeViews platform

    MACAU: Leading satellite operator ABS has announced today that it will partner with PT Sarana Media Vision (SMV), using SMV’s DTH license to launch a consumer FreeView satellite service – FreeViewSat – across Indonesia in January 2017. The service will be called SMV FreeViewSat and will initially broadcast over 60 television channels via the ABS-2, ABS-2A and ABS-6 satellites in both Ku and C-band.

    For the first time in Indonesia, a free-to-view platform will be available throughout the entire country, allowing advertisers the opportunity to reach the full potential of the Indonesian audience.

    The FreeViewSat model will promote maximum distribution and the cost of the STB & dish will be less than US$35. Customers will only need to make this one-time purchase to enjoy all the TV channels on the platform (with no monthly recurring subscription fees).

    Tom Choi, CEO of ABS commented that “SMV’s FreeViewSat will be very attractive for Indonesia by providing great quality international and unique domestic programming to the entire country. The goal is to deliver high quality entertainment and educational content affordably to all – For the first time, everybody, not only the affluent or those in the urban areas, will be able to receive high quality programming for free, with just a one-time purchase of a set-top box and dish. FreeViewSat will also give advertisers the first real opportunity to reach the whole population of Indonesia, even in rural areas. ABS is delighted to be partnering and supporting this highly worthwhile venture.’’

    At launch in January, FreeViewSat will carry at least 30 local Free-to-Air channels and more than 30 high quality international channels. The number of channels will continue to grow to over 100 channels in the first 6 to 12 months as new and interesting content is added.

    FreeViewSat will be available via 75cm Ku band dishes from 75E on ABS-2 and ABS-2A, and via 1.6m C-band antennas from 156E on ABS-6 simultaneously, so that consumers have the choice of small dishes, or larger ones with better rain protection. Since Indonesia already has over 10 million C-band antennas installed, the adoption rate is expected to be rapid.

    ABS has selected the ABV conditional access and middleware system, along with Ali chips for its Set-Top Boxes.

    Confirmed channels for launch include:

    TV9 Nusantara, TVRI Nasional, DAAI TV, TV One, ANTV, Metro TV, Trans 7, Trans TV, SCTV, Indosair, Kompas TV, Net TV, Bali TV H2, Bloomberg TV, France 24, Fix & Foxi, Action Hollywood Movies, Pulse TV, Al Jazeera English, CCTV-News, CCTV-4, CCTV-9, Russia Today, MediaCorp Channel, Landscape HD, TRACE Urban and TRACE Sport Stars, B4U Music, B4U Movies, NDTV 24/7 and NDTV Good Times, and many more

  • ABS partners PT Sarana Media to launch Indonesian DTH FreeViews platform

    ABS partners PT Sarana Media to launch Indonesian DTH FreeViews platform

    MACAU: Leading satellite operator ABS has announced today that it will partner with PT Sarana Media Vision (SMV), using SMV’s DTH license to launch a consumer FreeView satellite service – FreeViewSat – across Indonesia in January 2017. The service will be called SMV FreeViewSat and will initially broadcast over 60 television channels via the ABS-2, ABS-2A and ABS-6 satellites in both Ku and C-band.

    For the first time in Indonesia, a free-to-view platform will be available throughout the entire country, allowing advertisers the opportunity to reach the full potential of the Indonesian audience.

    The FreeViewSat model will promote maximum distribution and the cost of the STB & dish will be less than US$35. Customers will only need to make this one-time purchase to enjoy all the TV channels on the platform (with no monthly recurring subscription fees).

    Tom Choi, CEO of ABS commented that “SMV’s FreeViewSat will be very attractive for Indonesia by providing great quality international and unique domestic programming to the entire country. The goal is to deliver high quality entertainment and educational content affordably to all – For the first time, everybody, not only the affluent or those in the urban areas, will be able to receive high quality programming for free, with just a one-time purchase of a set-top box and dish. FreeViewSat will also give advertisers the first real opportunity to reach the whole population of Indonesia, even in rural areas. ABS is delighted to be partnering and supporting this highly worthwhile venture.’’

    At launch in January, FreeViewSat will carry at least 30 local Free-to-Air channels and more than 30 high quality international channels. The number of channels will continue to grow to over 100 channels in the first 6 to 12 months as new and interesting content is added.

    FreeViewSat will be available via 75cm Ku band dishes from 75E on ABS-2 and ABS-2A, and via 1.6m C-band antennas from 156E on ABS-6 simultaneously, so that consumers have the choice of small dishes, or larger ones with better rain protection. Since Indonesia already has over 10 million C-band antennas installed, the adoption rate is expected to be rapid.

    ABS has selected the ABV conditional access and middleware system, along with Ali chips for its Set-Top Boxes.

    Confirmed channels for launch include:

    TV9 Nusantara, TVRI Nasional, DAAI TV, TV One, ANTV, Metro TV, Trans 7, Trans TV, SCTV, Indosair, Kompas TV, Net TV, Bali TV H2, Bloomberg TV, France 24, Fix & Foxi, Action Hollywood Movies, Pulse TV, Al Jazeera English, CCTV-News, CCTV-4, CCTV-9, Russia Today, MediaCorp Channel, Landscape HD, TRACE Urban and TRACE Sport Stars, B4U Music, B4U Movies, NDTV 24/7 and NDTV Good Times, and many more

  • The Biggest Wave Makers in the Broadcast industry descend on this year’s CASBAA convention

    The Biggest Wave Makers in the Broadcast industry descend on this year’s CASBAA convention

    MUMBAI: In a year of undeniable sea-change within the broadcast industry, the debate at this year’s CASBAA Convention at its new venue at Hong Kong’s Intercontinental Hotel promises to be hotter than ever. With the theme ‘Making Waves’, the convention has secured an impressive line up of speakers comprising of key industry players from all over the world. From global media giants such as AOL and Virgin Media to regional players such as China Media Capital, this year’s convention will waste no time in getting to the heart of the most pertinent issues facing the cable and satellite industry today.

     

    With over-the-top– or OTT – inall its forms and formats being one of the biggest stories on the broadcast industry landscape this year, the topic will take pride of place at this year’s convention. Over the course of the convention, a wide range of issues related to OTT such as content, revenue-drivers, technologies, audience behaviors and regulation will be on the agenda.

     

    “Whilst we cannot deny the role that linear TV will continue to play a role in the region, we must face the reality that OTT is here to stay and adapt accordingly,” said Christopher Slaughter, CEO, CASBAA. “The simple truth is that companies that fail to evolve will be left behind. By taking a look at some of the best practices in the industry, both in our neck of the woods and further afield, it is our belief that the CASBAA Convention will help our members find ways to navigate – and even conquer – these unchartered seas.”

     

    Following an official welcome from Carrie Lam, Chief Secretary of the Hong Kong SAR Government, AOL’s Digital Prophet, David Shing will kick-start proceedings with an overview of the ever-evolving landscape, focusing on how OTT is now permeating every aspect of the content industry. Giving a UK perspective, Tom Mockridge of Virgin Media will discuss how the broadcast and digital landscapes have become increasingly intertwined and how Virgin has become a leader in this space.

     

    With news hot off the press of his new venture with Warner Bros., Li Ruigang of China Media Capital will be giving the China keynote speech. He will discuss how his investment strategy has helped establish him as one of the major players in the region bridging both the Chinese and international media landscape. Greg Beitchman from CNN and Mark Howard from Forbes will look at driving revenue streams in what is becoming an increasingly digital landscape, while content providers AlonShtruzman from Keshet Media and Mike Hyun-dong Suh from CJ E&M will look at key trends in the content market across Asia. Covering off the latest developments in how technology is being used in the broadcast arena will be David Downey from Invidiand Sam Rogoway from Victorious.  Gwynne Shotwell from SpaceX will be boldly going where no CASBAA speaker has gone before to look at how space technology will not only revolutionize the media industry but life as we know it.

     

    This year, CASBAA will also hold an additional conference on the Monday prior to the convention at the Sheraton Hong Kong to discuss the topic ‘Making Online Advertising Click’. With a view to looking at best practices in the online advertising space, Detective Chief Superintendent, David Clark from the City of London Police Force will discuss what policies have worked for them in the UK, while Dr. Paul Watters will release some updated research on the nefarious places respectable brands can appear online. A host of other speakers from the media to welfare sectors will also take part in this session.

     

    Sponsors for the CASBAA Convention 2015include: ABS, Accedo, Akamai, AMC, APT Satellite, AsiaSat, Brightcove, Conax, France 24, Ideal Group, InvestHK, Irdeto, ITV Choice, Kantar Media,Letv, MEASAT, MediaExcel, nowTV, PwC, RTL CBS Asia, Scripps Networks Interactive, SES, Time Warner, True Visions, Turner and TV5Monde.

  • Beyond the Box – CASBAA Convention 2014

    Beyond the Box – CASBAA Convention 2014

    MUMBAI: CASBAA’s highly anticipated annual multichannel TV industry convention will take place from October 27-30, 2014 at the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong. A popular stop on the Asia Pacific broadcasting calendar, this year’s event will explore the theme “Beyond the Box.”

     

    Reflecting the evolution of the television industry, this year’s CASBAA Convention theme looks at what the future holds for broadcasting – while never losing sight of the core business of linear TV.

     

    “At its most basic level, “the box” refers to the traditional television set that sits in the living room – or, more likely today, is mounted on a wall,” said Christopher Slaughter, CEO, CASBAA. “Linear TV is still a major industry driver in the Asia Pacific, but we are seeing the proliferation of new technologies and new platforms that are providing consumers with innovative viewing options “beyond the box.”

     

    “In order to take advantage of these new opportunities, it is imperative to explore different business models and strategies that will encompass these alternate revenue streams,” added Slaughter. “In short, it is time to start thinking outside of the box!”

     

    Key topics to be covered at the major sessions during the convention will include developments in over-the-top (OTT) TV services, opportunities for members in the mobile broadcasting space, as well as ultra-high-definition “4K” television, and innovation in transmission and broadcast technology and its implications for the industry. Sports issues – including rights, exclusivity and licensing – and broadcast news will also be major subjects explored at this year’s event.

     

    On hand to tackle these issues will be a world class roster of respected industry thought leaders including Jon Feltheimer, CEO, Lionsgate; Victor Koo, Chairman & CEO, Youku Tudou; Andrew Rashbass, Chief Executive of Reuters, Thomson Reuters; Tom Mockridge, CEO, Virgin Media; Peter Limbourg, Director General, Duetsche Welle; Barry Cupples, Global CEO, Investment, OMG; David Haslingden, CEO, NHNZ; Jim Samples, President, International, Scripps; Sam Blackman, CEO, Elemental Technologies; Dr. Justin Chuang, VP & Group Director, Communications Technologies Group, ASTRI; and, many others.

     

    Outside the Main Ballroom of the Grand Hyatt, where plenary sessions take place, there will be plenty of opportunities for members and delegates to get together at the newly revamped exhibition space which will feature display booths and networking lounges.

     

    Sponsors for the CASBAA Convention 2014 include ABS, APT Satellite, ARRIS, AsiaSat, Australia News Channel, Bloomberg, Conax, Deutsche Welle, Elemental Technologies, FRANCE 24, InvestHK, Irdeto, ITV, MEASAT, now TV, Playboy Plus Entertainment, PwC, SES, Time Warner, TrueVisions and TV5MONDE.

     

    For further information about the CASBAA Convention 2014, please visit www.casbaaconvention.com.

  • Big Thrill expands into Mumbai and Delhi with new carriage deals

    Big Thrill expands into Mumbai and Delhi with new carriage deals

    MUMBAI: Big RTL Thrill, the action entertainment channel targeted at male audiences, has launched on digital distribution platforms in Mumbai and Delhi.

    In Mumbai and Delhi, the channel has signed deals with In Digital, Hathway, Digicable, 7 Star, JPR Spacevision, ABS, Siti Cable, Home Cable and Star Broadband enabling it to expand its coverage to reach out to over 6.5 million households across both cities.

    This move is in line with its business plan of reaching out to audiences across one million+ towns in the Hindi-speaking markets (HSMs) in a phased manner, Reliance Broadcast Network Limited (RBNL) said.

    Big RTL Thrill is already available on Reliance Digital TV and other local platforms in Uttar Pradesh including Den, Digicable, Siti Cable, InCable, Siti Cable, Moon Cable and Sea TV.

    The joint venture channel between Reliance Broadcast Network and Europe‘s RTL Group that goes with the tag line Action ka Baap showcases the best internationally acquired content dubbed in Hindi.

    Targeted at male audiences (15-44 years), Big RTL Thrill promises to offer edge of the seat entertainment with content that ranges reality shows, action series, wrestling, extreme sports, game shows and action movies.

    RBNL CEO Tarun Katial said, “Big RTL Thrill has performed excellently in the regional market of Uttar Pradesh, consistently delivering strong numbers. The Channel, with its distinctive international dubbed content has already outperformed other regional male targeted channels and now makes its entry into the metros of Mumbai and Delhi.”

    The channel is positioned to create a new genre of entertainment for male audiences across the Hindi speaking markets.

    Until now, male skewed entertainment has been sporadically available across channels but there is no channel that caters exclusively and comprehensively to male audiences and their entertainment needs.

  • 325 fire incidents occur for every million TV sets in Europe

    325 fire incidents occur for every million TV sets in Europe

    MUMBAI: A study Leverkusen – Statistics for Europe show an annual 325 fires for every million television sets compared with just six in the US.

    The main reason for this is that TV housings on the old continent are still usually made from materials with little or no flame retardancy. In the US, materials with the V-0 classification are used, in compliance with the U.S. fire safety standard UL94.

    The risk of fire produced by televisions and IT equipment is now increasingly a focus of attention for the media and the public. The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is also responding to the growing safety demands, with the IEC TC 108 – the standards committee with global responsibility for this area – currently laying down new requirements for flame retardance in TV sets.

    Bayer MaterialScience a polymer manufacturer says that the requirements can already be met by its FR grades, flame-retardant polycarbonate (PC) blends and special grades of the Bayer MaterialScience polycarbonate Makrolon®.

    Bayer Industry Services Michael Halfmann says, “One of the aims of IEC TC 108 is to protect TV sets more effectively from external ignition sources like a burning candle that has toppled over. Some 12 to 20 per cent of all TV fires do not originate in the set but from an external fire source. The new standard therefore specifies areas of a TV set that can be reached by the flame of a candle that has fallen over. The TV must not catch fire in these areas even if it is exposed to the flame for three minutes.

    ”Our flame-retardant PC/ABS blends and PC grades do not just conform to IEC standards. They can also be used without any problems as a housing material that conforms to the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment and RoHS EU directives.”

  • Aircel launches WiMAX technology in Chennai

    Aircel launches WiMAX technology in Chennai

    BANGALORE: Aircel Business Solutions (ABS), part of Aircel, has launched wireless Internet services through Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access — popularly known as the WiMAX technology — which enables ‘last mile’ connectivity using ‘near line of site’ (NLOS) wireless equipment. 

    By doing so, ABS becomes the first company in India to launch WiMAX and one among the five global operators to achieve this feat.

    “Initially, ABS aims to make Chennai ‘wire free’ using WiMAX technology enabling wireless Internet connectivity for SME, enterprise and residential use,” says Aircel Business Solutions SVP Ram Shinde, while announcing the launch. “ABS is also positive about the commercial viability and acceptance of WiMAX across varied user profiles and geographies considering the substantial growth rate of Internet subscribers in recent times” he added.

    As of now, ABS can provide pan-city coverage (more than 90 percent) across commercial areas in Chennai and has already enabled wireless connectivity for SME and Enterprise clients through WiMAX based on 802.16d standards at a speed range of 2 to 10 Mbps. This would help the end user to stay connected to the Internet and Intranet with high uptime. These WiMAX deployments use NLOS wherein the customer premises equipment (CPE) does not have to face the base station (BTS). The forthcoming 802.16e standard will be even capable of mobile Internet, states an official release.

    ABS has also deployed WiMAX Networks beyond Chennai with limited coverage in many other prominent Indian cities such as Coimbatore, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Pune, Delhi, Cochin and Ahmedabad and would extend its pan-city coverage in a phased manner. Apart from these, ABS also plans to WiMAX another 26 cities in the near future, the release adds.

    With WiMAX, end users can have Internet accessibility based on portable technologies at an affordable price. WiMAX is unaffected by environmental or climatic disturbances and provides relief to organizations from ‘last mile’ connectivity concerns both in urban and rural areas with limited network infrastructure.

    The backend systems and processes (OSS / BSS) of ABS are highly sophisticated with end-to-end manageability from Sales Prospecting to Order Management and Internet Protocol (IP) Provisioning. All these systems are developed in-house and have the capability to accommodate future business requirements of ABS, the release adds.

    ABS is also identifying and deploying Wi-Fi ‘hotspots’ throughout the Chennai city with indoor and outdoor points backhauled with WiMAX. Internet services at these ‘hotspots’ will be enabled through pre-paid cards integrated with Payment Gateways for on-line registration and subsequently activated using the ‘Authentication, Authorization & Accounting’ (AAA) mechanism.