Applications
Power failure on INSAT-4B hits DTH, regional channels
BANGALORE: In a rare development, a power supply glitch on Indian Space Research Orgnisation‘s (Isro) INSAT-4B has resulted in partial disruption of the services of two direct-to-home (DTH) operators, a few regional television channels and telecom services.
Sun Direct and DD Direct Plus use the Ku-band transponders of Insat-4B.
There was a power supply anomaly in one of the two solar panels that supply power to the satellite, said an Isro official.
The INSAT-4B carries a total of 24 communication transponders (12 Ku-Band and 12 C-Band) and has been in operation since March 2007.
Isro admitted on the night of 7 July INSAT-4B experienced a power supply glitch which led to switching ‘off‘ of 50 per cent of the transponder capacity (6 Ku and 6 C-Band transponders).
An expert team is studying the possibilities of partial utilisation of some of the transponders that were switched off and restoring the services at the earliest.
“We are looking at the problem and are trying to solve it over the next week. In case that does not happen, we will consider other arrangements,” said a source at Isro.
Applications
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.
