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Govt approves optic fibre programme to link pandchayats
NEW DELHI: The Telecom Commission today approved a Scheme for creation of National Optical Fiber Network (NOFN) for providing Broadband connectivity to Panchayats to extend – in the first phase – the existing optical fiber network which extends up to districts HQ’s/Block HQ’s level up to the Gram Panchayat level by utilizing Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) .
“The cost of the initial phase of the NOFN scheme is likely to be in the region of Rs 200 billion. A similar amount of investment is likely to be made by the private sector complementing the NOFN infrastructure while providing services to individual users, Communication and Information Technology Minister Kapil Sibal said.
The proposal will now be placed before the Union Cabinet for approval.
A High Level Committee (HLC) to steer and coordinate all activities related to the creation and implementation of NOFN was earlier constituted by DOT on 26 April 2011 under the Co-Chairmanship of Sam Pitroda, Adviser to PM on Public Information, Infrastructure and Innovation and Nandan Nilekani, Chairman, UIDAI. The HLC has already held 3 meetings and has initiated steps to put the implementation on a fast track. A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) will assume the responsibility for execution of the project after approval of the scheme by the cabinet.
The SPV will be finally owned by the Government/USOF. The BSNL has been entrusted with the task of undertaking the preparatory activity for project execution and establishment of the SPV.
An advisory body to advise on implementation issues and upstream & downstream integration as well as on issues relating to non-discriminatory access of NOFN to service providers had also been set up earlier under the Chairmanship of the Minister on 26 April 2011 by DOT .The advisory body includes the representatives from TSP’s and the private sector.
In economic terms, the benefits from the scheme are expected through additional employment, e-education, e-health, e-agriculture etc. and reduction in migration of rural population to urban areas. As per a study conducted by World Bank, with every 10 per cent increase in broadband penetration, there is an increase in GDP growth by 1.4 per cent. It will also facilitate the Government to implement its various e-governance initiatives such as e-health, e-banking, e-education etc. thereby facilitating inclusive growth.
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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.
