MUMBAI: Scat India 2006, which positions itself as being India's largest exhibition for the Indian satellite and cable TV industry concludes today 14 October 2006 at the World Trade Center.
Scat Media and Consultancy executive director Dinyar Contractor says that the biggest improvement this year has been more focus. "Exhibitors appreciate the fact that there was a clear focus on cable television.
Earlier we had other focus areas as well but this time around there was a clear focus on the digital arena. The feedback we received from the exhibitors was that the trade visitors were well informed and clued in.
"They have done their homework which indicates that the digital arena is coming off age in India. One firm from Europe says that the questions that he has been asked about his products have been more knowledgeable and intelligent compared with some other tradeshows.
While earlier people would ask about what a product does now they ask whether a product has a certain feature. Visitors were hapy that weer big international names at the event."
Scat is now in its 15th year. Zee Telefilms chairman Subhash Chandra inaugurated the exhibition. By the time the event concludes it would have had around 12,000 attendees. There are 80 stalls and Contractor adds that at least 30 per cent of the exhibitors have confirmed that they will return next year. Some of them have booked bigger stalls.
The firms that took part included 2nd Wave Technology, Aditya Broadband, AlJazeera International, Beijing Swt Optical Comm. Catvision, Conax Systems, D-Link, Kieth Electronics, Micronas, Motorola, Finolex Fitel, Fujikura, Scientific Atlanta and Shenzhen Coship
A key product that the trade fraternity focussed on was digital headends. These will be needed for the deployment of conditional access (Cas) on 1 January 2007 in certain areas of Mumbai and Delhi. Normally headends are expensive. However at Scat Chinese vendors will display headends that are at a cost effective and competitive rate.
It was not just operators in areas where Cas will be rolled out in January 2007 that are interested. Contractor adds that even operators in small towns are interested. Though it is a bit expensive they know that once Cas comes in the problems between them and the broadcasters over under declaration will not exist. Hence they are willing to invest. The mood of the trade fraternity at Scat he says is confident that Cas will be rolled out smoothly.
Some operators are mentally gearing uop for Cas though it has yet to be mandated for their areas he adds. Therefore the interest in digital equipment is not surprising.
Other technology products that were on display include DVB-S and DTH Products, DTT, DVB-S and DVB-c test and measurement equipment, Fibre Optic products from global firms were also be on display.
