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Trai works out representative operational figures of stakeholders
NEW DELHI: The Telecom Regulatory of India (Trai) has worked out the representative operational figures of various stakeholders in the value chain for use in tariff fixation. This follows the Supreme Court directive asking the sector regulator to examine de novo the matter relating to tariff for Cable TV services in non-Cas areas.
Trai has asked all stakeholders to compare these representative operational figures in respect of their respective companies/enterprises and submit objections if any by 18 November, duly supported by full data in the format already prescribed by the Authority.
If no objections are received, the Authority will presume that the stakeholders are in agreement with the figures derived by the Authority.
Following the Court order of 13 May, Trai had earlier this year sought information in prescribed formats from various stakeholders such as Broadcasters, Aggregators (i.e. authorized distributors of the Broadcasters), DTH Operators, Multi System Operators, Cable Operators and Consumer Advocacy Groups to obtain a realistic understanding of the financials and the operation of various stakeholders.
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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.
