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SatLink upgrades platform to enhance bandwidth
MUMBAI: SatLink Communications, a leading teleport and HD Playout Centre delivering content, has upgraded their MCPC platform on the AsiaSat 5 satellite to DVB-S2 which will allow International HD, SD & 3D channels to be distributed more cost effectively on the Asian prime satellite.
The new DVB-S2 platform, which utilises SatLink‘s full C-band transponder on AsiaSat 5, will deliver higher throughput and greater bandwidth efficiency, enabling customers to benefit from high quality, cost effective content contribution and distribution solutions to and from the Asia Pacific.
SatLink‘s CEO David Hochner commented, “Providing the gateway between East and West, this upgrade will enable broadcasters and content providers to deliver content from Europe, Africa, Middle East and Americas directly to Asia in one hop from our strategic location.
“Not only will customers benefit from greater bandwidth efficiency but also complete end-to-end broadcasting services including localisation of content via our HD playout centre, live insertions, time delay and encryption (CA) services. This upgrade will be instrumental in providing a high quality level of service and flexibility to broadcasters and channels alike as they look for a partner to deliver rich media content to access all major Pay-TV platforms across the Asia-Pacific region.”
AsiaSat 5, at 100.5 ?E, has established penetration into over 50 countries across Asia, including two of the world‘s largest TV markets China and India.
Top tier international and national broadcasters are utilising SatLink‘s capabilities on AsiaSat 5 to distribute programmes to Asian free to air, Pay-TV and terrestrial markets.
News channels and content providers including Thomson Reuters TV, Associated Press, euronews, France 24 as well as other leading International channels such as DayStar Network, Luxe HD, Trace HD and major sporting events are delivered to Asia via SatLink‘s teleport.
AsiaSat President and CEO William Wade said, “The introduction of a more efficient DVB-S2 platform on AsiaSat 5 by our teleport partner SatLink is an important move to meet the growing demand for more cost effective end to end transmission services from international broadcasters who are expanding into the rapidly growing Asian market. We are pleased to work with SatLink to continue to provide innovative and comprehensive services to broadcasters through this new DVB-S2 platform.”
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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.
