Telecom Regulatory Authority Of India Trai

Five apply for DCRA as Trai readies digital connectivity rating system

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has received applications from five entities expressing interest in being empanelled as digital connectivity rating agencies (DCRAs) who will evaluate properties according to the regulator's prescribed rules and norms, according to Chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti. TRAI is hoping for an early launch of the entire system, with Lahoti noting that the first round of empanelment could take place as soon as this month. Some projects and properties have already started making enquiries about the rating system, he told PTI. The proposed 'star rating' system will evaluate properties on digital connectivity, similar to green building or energy efficiency rating systems. New as well as existing buildings can be rated under the proposed system, and TRAI hopes that framework may even nudge builders to "retrofit" existing buildings with good digital connectivity infrastructure to get a favourable rating. To support this, TRAI is developing a digital .

DoT seeks TRAI's views on pricing, modalities for multiple access bands

The telecom department has approached regulator TRAI seeking recommendations on reserve price, block size, quantum and other modalities for auction of mobile spectrum in eight existing bands, including 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1,800 MHz, 2,100 MHz and 2,300 MHz, according to sources. Other bands where TRAI's views have been sought by the Department of Telecom (DoT) include 2,500 MHz, 3,300 MHz and 2,6GHz bands, the sources told PTI. DoT has also urged the telecom regulator to offer fresh recommendations for auction of spectrum in 600 MHz bands. TRAI has also been asked to look at the possibility of auction for newly identified 6,425-6,725 MHz and 7,025-7,125 MHz bands for recommendations on auction timing, band plan, reserve price, and terms and conditions. In the last auction held in 2024, Sunil Bharti Mittal's Airtel had emerged as the biggest bidder for radio waves used to transmit mobile phone voice and data signals, cornering about 60 per cent of the Rs 11,341 crore worth of spectrum

Telcos cry foul over Trai's 'complement, not compete' satellite stand

These conclusions were part of Trai's recommendation on pricing of spectrum for satellite services to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), released a few days ago

Satcom guidelines: DoT looks to finalise key technical conditions

TRAI leaves spectrum sharing and coordination distance norms to DoT as satellite operators await clarity before launching services using C, Ku and Ka bands

Jio adds 1.76 mn subscribers in Feb, Vi losses shrink to 20K users: Trai

Vodafone Idea (Vi) continued to lose subscribers, albeit at a much slower rate

Telecom users rise to 1,190 mn in Jan; Airtel tops in new additions

Telecom user base in the country increased marginally to 119 crore in January with Airtel leading the chart in new subscriber additions across wireline and mobile segments, according to a Trai report released on Monday. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) for the second time did not release updated broadband subscribers data in monthly subscribers report as Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel did not submit data in prescribed format for December and January, the report said. "The number of total telephone subscribers in India increased from 1,189.92 million at the end of December 2024 to 1,192.03 million at the end of January 2025, thereby showing a monthly growth rate of 0.18 per cent," the report said. Airtel led the growth in mobile and wireline segment with net addition of 16.53 lakh and 1.17 lakh customers, respectively, in January. The regulator in the telecom subscription data for January 2025 reclassified 5G fixed wireless access (FWA) as a wireless service which le

Sebi directs entities to use '1600' phone number series for service calls

With an aim to enhance investor protection and curb financial fraud, markets regulator Sebi on Tuesday directed all its regulated and registered entities to exclusively use the '1600' phone number series for service and transactional voice calls to their existing customers. This directive aims to enhance investor security by minimising the risk of fraud perpetrated by unscrupulous entities that often use regular 10-digit numbers to disguise their identities. By adopting the '1600' number series, investors will be able to easily identify and attend calls from Sebi-regulated entities, thereby reducing the chances of falling victim to financial scams. "All regulated/registered entities are advised to only use the '1600' phone number series exclusively for service and transactional voice calls to their existing customers," Sebi said in a statement. The regulator has asked investors to remain vigilant and report any unsolicited commercial communications (UCC) or suspected fraudulent ...

Trai recommends slashing authorisation charges for DTH, radio services

Calls for interoperable set-top boxes, infrastructure sharing among broadcasters and telcos

Trai calls for separate network authorisation for telecom infrastructure

In line with similar recommendations for telcos, latest direction calls for ending the practice of signing agreements

Meta to build 50,000 km subsea cable to connect US, India, Brazil, S Africa

Dubbed Project Waterworth, the undersea cable will be a multi-billion-dollar, multi-year investment to strengthen the scale and reliability of the world's digital highways

Trai recommends opening up key 5G spectrum band for upcoming auctions

The 37-40 GHz spectrum band is ideal for reaching peak 5G speeds in high-density urban areas

Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio comply with Trai's voice-only mandate

The move came after telecom regulator called for data-less plans to allow low-paying consumers more choices

Elon Musk's Starlink moves closer to India licence, accepts data terms

Starlink is moving closer to obtaining a license in India after agreeing to comply with govt's data localisation and security requirements, clearing a major hurdle in its expansion plans in India

Telecom issue: NCLAT dismisses petitions, says IBC to prevail over Trai Act

Insolvency tribunal NCLAT has said that the Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code (IBC) would prevail over the provision of the Telecom Service Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) Act, as it dismissed two petitions filed by the sectoral regulator in the RCom matter. The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) dismissed the plea by the telecom regulator TRAI against the classification of the balances of the customers of RCom as operational debt by the resolution professional in the insolvency proceedings of the defunct service provider. NCLAT also dismissed the second petition filed by TRAI, where it sought direction to the resolution professional of RCom for payments of statutory dues amounting to Rs 85.10 lakh. "The submission of the appellant (TRAI) that Act being a special law, would prevail over the provisions of IBC cannot be accepted." "The Supreme Court has already held that Section 238 of the IBC has overriding effect over any other law. Hence, IBC shall prevail over the ..

Trai extends deadline for traceability mandate on OTPs to December 1

Trai has extended the deadline for implementing the traceability mandate on commercial messages to December 1, citing concerns from telecom operators over potential service disruptions

Trai releases consultation paper on satellite gateway authorisations

In the latest paper, Trai has asked whether there is a need to review the eligibility conditions for the existing SESG authorisation, which was recommended in 2022

DoT to crack down on telemarketers; new rules to curb spam calls & messages

Telecom companies have consistently raised concerns that they are penalised for spam that originates from third-party telemarketers over whom they have little control

War on spam: Govt, telecom industry need to adopt a zero-tolerance approach

Without wasting any more time, the DPDP Act needs to be acted upon with the goal of protecting users' data and thereby minimising fraud

Trai's whitelisting norms: Majority of banks, insurers in compliance

Mandatory registration of URLs, APKs, OTT links in SMS traffic starts

Trai to discuss OTT apps regulation; expedite Satcom framework: Chairman

Telecom regulator Trai will expedite the process for satellite spectrum pricing before taking up the issue of regulation for over-the-top apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Google Meet, Trai chairman said on Wednesday. A consultation paper on pricing for Satellite Spectrum will issued in the next few days, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) Chairman RC Lahoti said. "OTT was not part of this paper (Service Authorisation Framework under Telecommunications Act 2023). It is being discussed separately. Right now, we have to take up spectrum pricing on a priority basis," Lahoti said. He said that Trai will explore if OTT apps need to be regulated under the Telecommunications Act 2023. Telecom operators have expressed concern over Trai's recent recommendation on a new regime that proposes to allow the provisioning of telecom service using single authorisation instead of a license, which was the norm under the old regime. Lahoti said Trai has only recommended the framework that