The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued its response to a back-reference received from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) dated March 19, 2025. The back-reference sought clarifications on TRAI’s earlier recommendations dated February 20, 2023, concerning the “Rating of Buildings or Areas for Digital Connectivity.”
Digital Connectivity: A Core Infrastructure Need
In today’s digitally driven world, seamless connectivity is essential to our daily lives, influencing everything from the economy and education to healthcare, governance, and innovation. Despite several policy efforts by TRAI and the Government over the past two decades, digital connectivity—especially inside buildings—remains inadequate.
TRAI has previously made multiple recommendations to improve telecom infrastructure, as outlined in Annexure II of the consultation paper dated March 25, 2022. While these measures have improved overall connectivity, they haven’t sufficiently addressed challenges related to in-building digital access.
Smart Buildings Need Smart Connectivity
The Authority emphasized the growing importance of integrating Digital Connectivity Infrastructure (DCI) into building design. With the rise of the Internet of Things (IoT) and evolving workplace needs, building owners and occupants are increasingly looking for smart, connected spaces.
However, TRAI pointed out that current regulations and policies often treat digital connectivity as an afterthought, rather than a core utility—unlike water, electricity, or fire safety. Building approvals are currently governed by various Acts, bye-laws, and the Model Building Bye-Laws (MBBL) issued by the Town and Country Planning Organisation (TCPO) under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA). These regulations are typically adopted by state governments for building development.
TRAI’s Recommendations Aim to Bridge the Gap
To address the shortcomings in in-building digital infrastructure, TRAI had submitted a comprehensive set of recommendations on February 20, 2023. These aimed to establish a rating system for buildings and areas based on their digital connectivity readiness. The recommendations encourage collaboration among stakeholders to make digital connectivity a standard feature in building development.
TRAI highlighted that these recommendations are particularly relevant now, with the rollout of 5G and the future arrival of 6G. These next-generation networks rely on high-frequency bands that deliver faster data speeds but are more easily obstructed by building materials—making in-building connectivity even more critical.
DoT Seeks Clarifications
Following TRAI’s proposal, the DoT sent a back-reference in March 2025 seeking clarifications on specific aspects of the recommendations. TRAI has now responded, reinforcing the need to make digital connectivity an essential part of modern infrastructure and urging coordinated action to future-proof buildings for next-gen telecom services.
