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DoT releases 3G Spectrum to successful bidders
NEW DELHI: The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) allotted 3G spectrum for commercial use on 1 September as promised by it before the auction.
The 3G spectrum has been allotted to AirTel, Aircel, Vodafone, S Tel, Reliance, Idea Cellular and Tata Cellular Services who won the bids through the electronic auction conducted by the DoT spread over a period of 34 days in respect of 3G and 16 days in respect of BWA.
The BWA spectrum has already been assigned to the successful bidders – Aircel, Augere, Tikona, Qualcomm, Infotel and Bharti.
3G and BWA spectrum would enable users to have value added services like video streaming, mobile internet access, higher & faster data downloads. These services are expected to be launched early next year by the service providers.
A DoT official said with the allotment of spectrum, the Department has met all the timelines in strict adherence to the Notice Inviting Applications, from issuing NIA, conducting the auction, and assigning spectrum on due date.
The official said the electronic auction conducted for 3G & BWA spectrum, the first of its kind in the country, had been historic in terms of its success. The auctions took place in a fair and transparent manner satisfying all the stakeholders including the bidders who have won the spectrum for pan-India and different circles. The success of this auction has been unparallel and the Government intends to replicate this model in other sectors involving large stakes.
The Government earned Rs 1062.6226 billion from the auctions. The revenue is more than three times the target of Rs 350 billion fixed by the Finance Ministry in its budget documents and more than five times the reserve price.
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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.
