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MTNL gets Rs 4.5 bn for communication facilities of CWG
NEW DELHI: A budget of Rs 4.5 billion has been earmarked to the Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited for providing communication facilities during the Commonwealth Games 2010 includng the broadcast network for high definition broadcast.
Parliament was informed by Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology Sachin Pilot that MTNL and Telecommunications Consultants India Ltd. (TCIL) are executing the work.
MTNL is setting up wide area Telecom Networks for Commonwealth Games connecting various venues with three networks: Games Data Network (GDN) for Games Applications, Voice & Multimedia; Security Data Network (SDN) for CCTV/Video Surveillance; and Broadcast Network (BN) for High Definition Broadcast.
MTNL is getting funds for use of this network during the CWG from different sources: Rs. 1.82 billion from the Sports Ministry in a wet lease basis; Rs. 300 million from the Home Ministry for uses of security data network; and Rs. 730 million from the Organising Committee for using data and various other services.
Among other things, TCIL has been asked to get cable access TV services at a project estimate value of Rs 13.8 million; and supply, installation & commissioning of audio visual equipment at a value of Rs 51.9 million.
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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.
