Applications
E-auction process for 2G to commence later this month
NEW DELHI: The process for the 2G e-auctions as directed by the Supreme Court will commence on 28 September with the issue of notice inviting applications.
The e-auction for the 1800 MHz band will begin on 12 November and that for the 800 MHz will be held two days after the close of the first auction. The payment of the successful bid amount will have to be made within ten calendar days of the close of the respective e-auctions.
In its judgment of 2 February this year, the Supreme Court had declared illegal and quashed the licences granted to the private respondents on or after 10 January 2008 pursuant to two press releases issued on 10 January 2008 and subsequent allocation of spectrum to the licensees. The direction became operative after four months.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) was asked to make fresh recommendations for grant of licence and allocation of Spectrum in 2G band in 22 service areas by auction, as was done for allocation of spectrum in 3G band.
The Central Government was asked to consider the recommendations of Trai and take appropriate decision within next one month and grant fresh licences by auction.
The Information Memorandum for Auction in 1800MHz and 800MHz bands has already been issued giving timelines for the conduct of the auction.
Official sources said the Government has through Request for Proposal (RFP) process engaged . Times Internet Limited (lead partner) and e-Procurement Technologies Ltd. as consortium partner for design and conduct of the auction.
The timelines for auctions is given below :
Queries on IM
By 5th September, 2012
Pre-bid conference
6th September, 2012
Further queries
By 7th September, 2012
Issue of Notice Inviting Applications
28th September, 2012
Last date for submission of Applications
19th October, 2012
Publication of ownership details of Applicants
21st October, 2012
Bidder Ownership Compliance Certificate
24th October, 2012
Pre-qualification of Bidders
28th October, 2012
Final List of bidders
6th November, 2012
Mock Auction
7th – 8th November, 2012
Start of the e-auction of 1800MHz Band
12th November, 2012
Start of the e-auction of 800MHz Band
2 days from the day of close of the e-auction of 1800MHz Band
Payment of the Successful Bid Amount
Within 10 calendar days of the close of the respective e-auctions
Applications
With 57 per cent single new users, Ashley Madison rebrands as discreet dating platform
Platform says majority of new members now identify as single
INDIA: Ashley Madison is shedding the “married-dating” label that defined it for two decades, repositioning itself as a platform for discreet dating in what it calls the post-social media age.
The rebrand, unveiled in India on 27 February, 2026, marks a structural shift in business model and identity. Once synonymous with married dating, the company now describes itself as the “premier destination for discreet dating” under a new tagline: Where Desire Meets Discretion.
The pivot is data-driven. Internal figures show that 57 per cent of global sign-ups between 1 January and 31 December, 2025 identified as single: a notable departure from the platform’s married core. The company argues that its community has already evolved beyond its original positioning.
“In an age where our lives have been constantly put on public display, privacy has become the new luxury,” said Ashley Madison chief strategy officer Paul Keable. He framed the platform’s offering as “ethical discretion” for singles, separated, divorced and non-monogamous users seeking private connections.
The shift also taps into wider digital fatigue. A global survey conducted by YouGov for Ashley Madison, covering 13,071 adults across Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland, the UK and the US, found mounting discomfort with hyper-public online lives.
Among dating app users, 30 per cent cited constant swiping and messaging as a source of fatigue, while 24 per cent pointed to pressure to curate public-facing profiles and early personal disclosure. Some 27 per cent said fears of screenshots or information being shared contributed to exhaustion; an equal share cited unwanted attention.
The retreat from oversharing appears broader. According to the survey, 46 per cent of adults actively try to keep most aspects of their life private online. Only 8 per cent feel comfortable sharing most aspects publicly, while 35 per cent say they are becoming more selective about what they disclose.
Ashley Madison is betting that this cultural recalibration towards controlled visibility can be monetised. By doubling down on privacy infrastructure and reframing itself around discretion rather than infidelity, the company is attempting to convert reputational baggage into a premium proposition.
