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Digital broadcasting gains focus in ITU’s world telecom meet
NEW DELHI: A strategic plan adopted at the 5th ITU World Telecommunication Development Conference in Hyderabad will give high priority to assist administrators, regulators, broadcasters and other stakeholders in introducing digital broadcasting and providing assistance to developing countries on spectrum management.
The Hyderabad Action Plan recognized that the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting is a key development in facilitating the dissemination of information and freeing up spectrum. New telecommunication and ICT services, including satellite radio communications, will help connect rural and isolated communities and meet the needs of indigenous communities.
While satellite digital sound and television broadcasting services have been introduced worldwide, terrestrial digital television and sound broadcasting is becoming a global priority.
Wireless broadband networks and next-generation networks (NGN) foster the widespread use of affordable and accessible telecommunications and ICTs.
The Hyderabad Action Plan adopted at the conclusion of the Conference outlined a road map to foster the global development of information and communication technology (ICT) networks and services over the next four-year cycle. The roll out of next-generation networks (NGN) and increased access to broadband services, wireless technologies and the Internet were recognised as catalysts to achieve the broader development goals.
The Hyderabad Declaration states that broad access to telecommunications and ICTs is essential for the world’s collective economic, social and cultural development, and the building of a global Information Society. This access brings new opportunities for interaction amongst people, for sharing of the world’s knowledge resources and expertise, for transforming people’s lives, and for contributing to the global development agenda.
The Conference (WTDC-10), held from 24 May until 4 June in Hyderabad, was attended by 924 delegates, including 758 government delegates from 138 countries and 6 representatives from Palestine, 88 public and private sector representatives from 28 companies, 16 representing telecommunication-related entities from 7 countries and 56 representatives from 25 regional and international organisations.
Conference chairman P.J. Thomas, who is Secretary in the Department of Telecommunications, said the increasing role of ICT in the life of the common man cannot be overemphasized. Keeping in view the latest technological developments in ICT, the Hyderabad declaration adopted by WTDC-10 will play a decisive role in the development of the ICT sector across the world, especially in developing countries.
The Hyderabad Action Plan consists of a comprehensive package that will promote the equitable and sustainable development of telecommunication and ICT networks and services worldwide.
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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.
