News Broadcasting
Dishnet planning VoIP service
The Sivasankaran-promoted Dishnet DSL, a Chennai-based Category A Internet service provider (ISP) plans to come out with voice over Internet Protocol service very soon and is also looking at offering value-added services to its customers, according to an executive of the company.
“We are planning the VoIP soon and will also supply the phone sets through which customers will be able to use the facility,” B Rajan of Dishnet DSL said.
Pointing out that the company will not restrict itself to the core services, Rajan said value-added services will be an added incentive. The services which the company is looking at offering include video streaming, video conferencing, gaming and e-commerce.
“We are also closely looking at e-learning which is a buzz word these days,” Rajan added.
Dwelling on the company’s expansion plans, especially in North India, Rajan said that a hub would come up soon in Noida on the outskirts of New Delhi. “But we are open to partnerships for co-location,” he said, hinting that in those places where the company does not have a hub or a gateway it is open to forging alliances.
Dishnet DSL, incorporated in 1998, currently has operations in 37 cities in India with eight licenced international gateways and over 125 Dishnet DSL hubs.
Pointing out the advantages that a Dishnet customer has compared to the one who has a Net connection through cable, Rjana said that while DishnetDSL connections are always on, dedicated and secured lines, a csusbcriber of Net-over-cable may not get the consistency due to cable deficiencies and will not have a complete secure line.
Some of DishnetDSL’s clients include Coznizant technology Solutions, HCL technologies, Arthur Andersen, Raj TV and Vijay TV.
News Broadcasting
News18 hosts Tamil Nadu town hall ahead of 2026 polls
MK Stalin headlines ‘Next Big Leap’ event from 10am on 23 February in Chennai with leaders and icons.
MUMBAI: Tamil Nadu’s political pot is simmering and News18’s town hall is stirring it up just in time for the 2026 assembly elections boilover. Set for 23 February from 10am onwards in Chennai, the News18 Network Town Hall gathers heavyweights under the banner ‘The Next Big Leap for Tamil Nadu’ to dissect the state’s political pulse, economic edge, and cultural clout. With the 234-seat assembly contest looming as a fiercely competitive showdown, the event spotlights how Tamil Nadu’s identity-driven politics and engaged voters continue to ripple across national debates.
Chief minister MK Stalin leads the charge with a keynote on the theme, sketching his government’s blueprint for governance, development, and staying power pre-polls. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin chimes in on ‘Voices, Vision & Way Forward’, unpacking generational shifts and fresh narratives. From the opposition corner, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami tackles ‘Baton Change at the Ballot?’, floating alternatives to the status quo.
Economic vibes get a nudge from industries minister TRB Rajaa on ‘Investment Story Intact?’, probing the state’s draw for big bucks. BJP’s K Annamalai dives into ‘People, Trust & Political Ideology’, positioning his party in the Dravidian-dominated turf. IT Minister Palanivel ThiagaRajan explores ‘Code, Capacity & Citizenship’, on tech’s role in citizen-focused services. TVK’s KG Arunraj questions if ‘Winds of Change are Possible’ in this pattern-prone state.
A panel on innovation features IIT Madras director Prof V Kamakoti, M&M’s Velusamy R, and Electronic Industries Association’s Dr Sasikumar Gendham, musing how AI and knowledge hubs are remaking opportunities. AICC’s Praveen Chakravarty weighs ‘Power Sharing vs Principles’, while former Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan joins the fray. Culture gets its due with composer Anirudh Ravichander on ‘Tamil Music for the World’.
CNN-News18, editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar noted, “The News18 Network Tamil Nadu Town Hall… reflects our core editorial focus, to capture the political mood of the state and spotlight the ideas that will shape the next phase of governance and growth.”
Network18, CEO of English & business news Smriti Mehra added, “As Tamil Nadu moves closer to a defining electoral moment… we see it as our responsibility to drive informed and meaningful conversations.”
Network18 managing editor for South, Vivek Narayan said, “The News18 Network Townhall in Tamil Nadu is designed as a platform where policy, politics and public interest intersect.”
Backed by associate partners Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles and Reliance Industries, the live event streams on CNN-News18, News18 Tamil, CTV, and Youtube from 10am on 23 February perfect for catching the sparks, even if you’re not knee-deep in Dravidian drama.
