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Govt fixes Rs 35 bn as base price for 3G auction
MUMBAI: The government has fixed the base price of third generation (3G) spectrum at Rs 35 billion per slot. The decision, taken by the empowered group of ministers (e-GoM), also states that only five operators will be allowed in the first phase auction to offer the high-speed mobile services. This effectively means that only four new players will be given spectrum in the first phase, as state-run operator BSNLMTNL, is already offering 3G services in their respective circles. Additionally, the base price for pan-India WiMax (wireless Internet) spectrum has been fixed at Rs 17.5 billion. The number of licences in first phase is restricted to three by the e-GoM, which was headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee. Telecom Minister A Raja said that the auction will be complete within three months. “The government will complete the auction of 3G spectrum within three months and expects to raise Rs 250 billion,” Raja told reporters. Indiantelevision.com had earlier reported that BSNL and MTNL would have to match the price quoted by successful bidders in each circle. Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia were also part of the e-GOM. The much awaited 3G spectrum auction was getting delayed as the Department of Telecom (DoT) and the Finance Ministry were not agreeing on the base price. DoT had recommended Rs 20.20 billion as base price, whereas Finance Ministry wanted it to be higher at Rs 40.40 billion. However, the e-GoM, it seems, went for its own pricing.
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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.
