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Tag: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India

  • India cuts FM radio reserve prices to revive stagnant sector

    India cuts FM radio reserve prices to revive stagnant sector

    NEW DELHI: India’s telecom regulator has recommended sharp cuts in reserve prices for FM radio channel auctions, acknowledging the sector’s struggle against streaming services and stagnant revenues that have barely recovered from pre-pandemic levels.

    The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on 23 September  proposed reserve prices 30 per cent below previous valuations for three cities seeking radio licenses. Bilaspur in Chhattisgarh would see its reserve price set at Rs 83 lakh, down from a calculated valuation of Rs 1.18 crore. Rourkela in Odisha faces a reserve floor of Rs 1.20 crore against a Rs 1.71 crore valuation, whilst Rudrapur in Uttarakhand gets a Rs 97 lakh reserve price from a Rs 1.39 crore assessment.

    The cuts reflect harsh realities facing India’s private FM radio industry. Total advertising revenues peaked at Rs 2,382 crore in 2018-19 but crashed to Rs 941 crore during the pandemic’s first year. Recovery has been sluggish, reaching just Rs 1,819 crore in 2024-25—barely matching 2019-20 levels despite more channels operating.

    “The sector is facing increased competition from digital audio platforms,” TRAI noted, warning of “substitutability effects” as younger listeners migrate to on-demand streaming services that offer playlist curation and skip functions unavailable on traditional FM.

    The regulator’s move follows disappointing recent auctions. In July 2025, only 63 of 730 available channels across 234 cities found buyers, highlighting weak industry demand despite government efforts to expand FM coverage.

    TRAI also introduced a new “category E” classification for 18 small cities in hilly regions of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu & Kashmir, setting their reserve prices at just Rs 3.75 lakh each. These locations would operate with lower transmission power than existing categories, reflecting challenging terrain and smaller populations.

    The recommendations include several industry-friendly measures: allowing FM broadcasters to stream content online simultaneously, permitting news and current affairs programming for up to 10 minutes per hour, and offering instalment payment options similar to telecom spectrum auctions.

    Most significantly, TRAI urged the government to delink annual licence fees from non-refundable entry fees for all operators—not just new entrants. Current rules tie existing broadcasters’ annual costs to auction prices set by later bidders, creating unpredictable expense burdens that “impinge on the business model for FM operators.”

    The authority also recommended allowing voluntary infrastructure sharing and reducing mandatory co-location requirements with state broadcaster Prasar Bharati, whose rental charges some operators claim could be recovered through independent infrastructure within 2.5 years.

    India currently operates 388 private FM radio channels across 113 cities. The sector employs thousands and serves as a crucial local information source, particularly during emergencies. However, its financial sustainability increasingly depends on adapting to digital competition whilst maintaining terrestrial broadcasting’s unique community connection advantages.

  • TRAI gives smaller cable operators a break on mandatory audits

    TRAI gives smaller cable operators a break on mandatory audits

    NEW DELHI: India’s telecom regulator has proposed easing compliance burdens on smaller cable television operators whilst tightening audit procedures for the rest of the industry under draft amendments released on 22  September. 

    The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) plans to make annual system audits optional for distribution platform operators (DPOs) serving fewer than 30,000 active subscribers. The move follows complaints from smaller operators about the disproportionate cost of mandatory audits, which can consume a significant share of their revenues.

    The proposed draft Telecommunications  (Broadcasting And Cable) Services Interconnection  (Addressable Systems) (Seventh Amendment ) Regulations, 2025 state  that larger operators would still face stricter requirements. They must complete audits for the preceding financial year and share reports with broadcasters by 30 September each year, replacing the current calendar year framework.

    The draft also introduces new provisions for infrastructure sharing between operators. Where multiple DPOs share encoding equipment, the infrastructure provider would insert watermark logos at the encoder level whilst individual operators add their logos through set-top boxes. However, TRAI proposes limiting screen clutter by allowing only two logos—the broadcaster’s and the last-mile distributor’s—to appear simultaneously.

    The regulator has addressed longstanding industry disputes over audit challenges. Under new procedures, broadcasters questioning audit reports must cite specific discrepancies with evidence within 30 days. If unsatisfied with auditor responses, they can request special audits but must bear the costs.

    “The audit of systems is necessary to ensure that the systems deployed by a DPO are addressable as per regulatory requirements,” TRAI stated in its explanatory memorandum. “Proper and accurate subscription reports are very important as the settlement of charges between service providers is based on such reports.”
    The draft regulations also mandate that auditors provide independence certificates confirming they have no conflicts of interest with the entities being audited.

    Industry stakeholders have until 6 October to submit comments on the proposals. The amendments are scheduled to take effect from 1st April 2026.

    The move reflects TRAI’s broader effort to reduce regulatory burden on smaller operators whilst maintaining oversight of the Rs 70,000 crore broadcasting and cable services sector. The authority previously made certain compliance requirements optional for operators with fewer than 30,000 subscribers in quality-of-service regulations issued in July 2024.

    However, some industry players have criticised the proposals. Broadcaster associations argue that exempting smaller operators from mandatory audits could increase under-reporting of subscriber numbers, whilst some cable operators contend that even the revised procedures remain too burdensome.

    The draft comes as India’s television distribution industry grapples with declining subscriber bases and increased competition from digital platforms. Many smaller operators have struggled with compliance costs, particularly annual audit fees that can range from Rs 50,000 to several lakhs depending on system complexity.
    TRAI’s proposals also address technical requirements for infrastructure sharing arrangements, mandating separate data instances for each operator using shared subscriber management and conditional access systems to prevent cross-contamination of subscriber data.

    The regulator emphasised that the 30,000-subscriber threshold for audit exemptions would be reviewed periodically based on market conditions.

  • India’s telecom scene rings in mixed signals in 2024-25

    India’s telecom scene rings in mixed signals in 2024-25

    MUMBAI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released its annual performance indicators report for 2024-25 and the numbers show a curious mix of gains, drops and digital twists in India’s ever-buzzing telecom space.

    India added 14.7 million internet users over the year, nudging the total base to a hefty 969.1 million by March 2025, a modest growth of 1.54 per cent. Of these, a dominant 944.12 million are broadband surfers, up 2.17 per cent, while the slow-lane narrowband crowd shrank 17.66 per cent to just 24.98 million.

    Wireless users are spending more. Average revenue per user (arpu) for wireless shot up 16.89 per cent to Rs174.46 a month. Prepaid arpu jumped sharply from Rs 146.37 to Rs 173.84. Postpaid users, though, spent less, their arpu dipped to Rs180.86 from Rs 184.63.

    Talk time also climbed. The average subscriber chatted for 1,000 minutes a month, up from 963 the previous year. But again, the prepaid crowd did the heavy lifting, their usage rose to 1,047 minutes, while postpaid users spoke less, clocking just 503 minutes.

    The total number of telephone subscribers in India edged up marginally to 1,200.80 million, a limp 0.13 per cent rise. But while wireline made a surprising comeback with a 9.62 per cent jump (now at 37.04 million users), mobile telephony lost ground. Wireless subscribers fell by 1.74 million, a 0.15 per cent dip with a sharper 8.5 million drop for mobile-only users (excluding 5G FWA). Overall wireless teledensity slipped to 82.42 per cent.

    Interestingly, rural areas clung on rural subscriptions rose 0.15 per cent to 534.69 million. But rural teledensity inched down from 59.19 to 59.06 per cent. Urban teledensity, meanwhile, dropped more steeply from 133.72 to 131.45 per cent.

    India’s mobile data addiction shows no signs of slowing. Wireless data users grew 2.87 per cent to 939.51 million, and total data consumed soared to 2,28,779 petabytes, a 17.46 per cent rise. Revenues from this data deluge? A cool Rs 2.15 lakh crore up 15.49 per cent from last year.

    Telecom’s gross revenue hit Rs 3.72 lakh crore, up 10.72 per cent. while adjusted gross revenue (agr) rose 12.02 per cent to Rs 3.03 lakh crore. Pass-through charges, however, slid 1.31 per cent to Rs52,879 crore.

    Spectrum usage charges (suc) and licence fees went up too by 13.02 and 12.02 per cent, respectively. Access services, basically what we all use made up a commanding 83.65 per cent of agr.

    It’s not just telecom that got a review. The broadcasting scene had its own drama. India had 918 satellite TV channels licensed by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting as of March 2025, with 908 available for downlinking. But pay DTH is losing fans, subscribers dropped to 56.92 million from 61.97 million a year ago, while Doordarshan’s free DTH carried on as usual.

    In radio, the number of operational private FM stations stayed flat at 388 across 113 cities. But a shuffle at the top saw six channels from Digital Radio (Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata) merge into South Asia FM Ltd. The number of private radio operators is now 33, down from 36.

    Meanwhile, community radio keeps spreading its voice. The grassroots network now boasts 531 stations up from 494 the year before.

    The Indian telecom space is talking, streaming, and spending more, but it’s also shifting gears. Data is king, mobile’s golden days might be levelling off, wireline’s having a mini-renaissance, and DTH seems to be heading the way of the landline.

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  • TRAI-RERA collaborate to make buildings digitally ready

    TRAI-RERA collaborate to make buildings digitally ready

    MUMBAI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) took a step towards better digital connectivity inside buildings by hosting a webinar on 30 January. Led by chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti, the session brought together 116 representatives from Real Estate Regulatory Authorities (RERA) across 24 States and Union Territories, alongside senior TRAI officials. The discussion focused on TRAI’s new regulation for rating properties on digital connectivity, aiming to improve seamless network access in modern real estate developments.

    In his opening remarks, Lahoti highlighted the crucial role of RERA in improving digital connectivity in real estate projects. TRAI advisor Tejpal Singh presented an overview of the regulation, covering registration procedures for digital connectivity rating agencies and property managers, rating criteria, and evaluation steps. TRAI officials also addressed queries from RERA representatives.

    The webinar explored potential collaboration between TRAI and RERA to enhance digital infrastructure in real estate. Participants appreciated the initiative and expressed interest in further stakeholder discussions to strengthen digital connectivity standards in buildings.

  • TRAI releases telecom subscription data for 30 September 2024

    TRAI releases telecom subscription data for 30 September 2024

    New Delhi: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) unveiled its report on telecom subscription data as of 30 September 2024. The findings highlight trends across wireless and wireline segments, broadband subscriptions, and mobile number portability (MNP) requests, reflecting a dynamic yet challenging period for the sector.

    Decline in total subscribers

    India’s total telecom subscriber base saw a decline of 9.41 million in September, with numbers dropping from 1,200.07 million in August to 1,190.66 million. This translates to a monthly contraction of 0.78 per cent. Urban areas reported a slight dip in tele-density from 132.94 per cent to 131.86 per cent, while rural tele-density dropped from 59.05 per cent to 58.48 per cent. The declining figures underline challenges such as market saturation and migration of users to alternative communication platforms.

    Broadband subscriptions decreased by 0.51 per cent, from 949.21 million in August to 944.40 million in September. Mobile devices accounted for most of this decline, witnessing a contraction of 0.63 per cent. However, wired broadband and fixed wireless users showed growth, with increases of 1.83 per cent and 9.01 per cent, respectively. Reliance Jio retained its dominance with 477.94 million subscribers, followed by Bharti Airtel (285.17 million) and Vodafone Idea (126.36 million). These top players collectively command 98.42 per cent of the broadband market, underscoring limited competition in this segment.

    Wireline subscribers on the rise

    The wireline segment emerged as a bright spot, growing by 1.93 per cent to reach 36.93 million subscribers. Urban areas accounted for 92.14 per cent of these connections, highlighting an urban-centric growth trajectory. BSNL and MTNL, despite being public-sector entities, maintained a combined market share of 23.95 per cent, showcasing resilience amidst stiff competition.

    The wireless segment faced a challenging month with a decline of 10.11 million subscribers, a 0.87 per cent drop. Urban and rural wireless subscriptions declined by 0.80 per cent and 0.95 per cent, respectively, as affordability and service reliability remained key issues. Bharti Airtel led the active wireless subscriber base with a remarkable 99.27 per cent activity rate on its Visitor Location Register (VLR).

    The MNP service recorded 13.32 million requests in September, raising the cumulative total to 1,039.11 million. Zone-I, encompassing Northern and Western India, saw Uttar Pradesh-East leading the pack with 100.56 million porting requests. In Zone-II, Madhya Pradesh topped the charts with 81.06 million requests, reflecting high user dissatisfaction or a quest for better services.

    Regional tele-density variations

    Tele-density across circles revealed stark disparities. Delhi boasted the highest tele-density at 278.55 per cent, while Bihar recorded the lowest at 56.40 per cent. This gap highlights persistent inequalities in telecom penetration across states.

    While the report signals challenges, particularly in the wireless and rural segments, it also hints at potential opportunities in wireline growth and broadband expansion. As operators strive to innovate and enhance service quality, the sector remains poised for a possible turnaround. 

  • TRAI issues consultation paper on Broadcasting Service Authorisations under Telecom Act 2023

    TRAI issues consultation paper on Broadcasting Service Authorisations under Telecom Act 2023

    New Delhi – The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released a consultation paper on Framework for Service Authorisations for provision of Broadcasting Services under the Telecommunications Act, 2023′.

    The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) through a letter dated 25 July 2024, sent a reference to TRAI informing that the Telecommunications Act, 2023 has been published in the Official Gazette of India. Section 3(1)(a) of the Telecommunications Act, 2023, which is yet to be notified, provides for obtaining an authorisation by any entity/ person intending to provide telecommunication services, subject to such terms and conditions, incuding fees or charges, as may be prescribed.

    In respect of the broadcasting services, the reference has apprised that many broadcasting platforms (which employ radio waves and spectrum for offering services) viz. DTH, HITS, IPTV, Uplinking/ Downlinking of television channels (including teleports), SNG, DSNG, Community Radio, FM Radio etc. are issued license/ permission/ registration by MIB under Section 4 of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, which is replaced by the Telecommunications Act, 2023. 

  • TRAI releases telecom subscription data report for 31 August 2024

    TRAI releases telecom subscription data report for 31 August 2024

    Mumbai: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released key insights into telecom subscription data as of August 31, 2024. During August, there were 14.66 million requests for Mobile Number Portability (MNP), bringing the total cumulative MNP requests since the system’s implementation to 1,025.78 million, up from 1,011.13 million at the end of July.

    As for active wireless subscribers, TRAI reported that there were 1,061.48 million active users at the peak VLR (Visitor Location Register) date in August 2024.

    In its analysis of broadband services, TRAI noted an increase in total broadband subscribers from 946.19 million in July to 949.21 million in August, marking a growth rate of 0.32 per cent. The number of wireline subscribers also rose from 35.56 million to 36.23 million, a net increase of 0.67 million and a monthly growth rate of 1.90 per cent. At the end of August, urban subscribers accounted for 92.09 per cent of the wireline base, while rural subscribers made up 7.91 per cent.

    Despite the overall growth in wireline subscriptions, total wireless subscribers decreased from 1,169.61 million in July to 1,163.83 million in August, resulting in a decline of 0.49 per cent. Urban wireless subscriptions fell from 635.46 million to 633.21 million, while rural subscriptions dropped from 534.15 million to 530.63 million. This led to a reduction in wireless tele-density from 83.32 per cent to 82.85 per cent.

    The market share of private access service providers remains significant, holding 92 per cent of wireless subscribers, with BSNL and MTNL, the public sector units, accounting for only eight per cent. Additionally, the number of M2M (Machine-to-Machine) cellular connections increased from 53.67 million to 54.07 million, with Bharti Airtel leading with a market share of 52.54 per cent.

    The total number of telephone subscribers in India decreased from 1,205.17 million to 1,200.07 million, reflecting a decline rate of 0.42 per cent. Urban and rural telephone subscriptions also fell during this period. Consequently, overall tele-density decreased from 85.85 per cent to 85.43 per cent.

    Of the 1,163.83 million wireless subscribers, approximately 91.21 per cent were active in August. Bharti Airtel had the highest active subscriber proportion at 99.24 per cent, while MTNL reported the lowest at just 26 per cent.

  • TRAI releases ‘Rating of Properties for Digital Connectivity Regulations, 2024’

    TRAI releases ‘Rating of Properties for Digital Connectivity Regulations, 2024’

    Mumbai: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) releases Regulations namely “Rating of Properties for Digital Connectivity Regulations, 2024 “.

    The regulations aims to provide policy and regulatory trigger, for addressing the issue of quality of digital connectivity inside buildings, the Authority has submitted recommendations to the Government on “Rating of Buildings or Areas for Digital Connectivity” on 20 February 2023. The recommendations are aimed to create an ecosystem for co-creations of Digital Connectivity Infrastructure (DCI) as a part of any development activity. Further, for enabling co-creation of DCI in Buildings or Areas, the Authority has recommended to include DCI development as a part of Model Building Byelaws and suggested a draft chapter titled “Digital Connectivity Infrastructure in the Buildings” covering requirement of DCI for new and existing buildings. This assumes importance as the majority of data consumption takes place indoors or in public premises whereas the quantum & speed of data consumption have seen exponential growth, more so with the advent of 5G technology.

    As a part of aforesaid recommendations, the Authority also decided to bring a framework for rating of buildings or properties for digital connectivity to promote creation of good digital connectivity through a collaborative and self-sustainable approach.

    Accordingly, these regulations are being notified to encourage and nudge property managers for providing good digital connectivity experience to their existing and prospective customers. A property with better ratings shall attract more users, buyers or investors and thereby add value to the properties.

    In India, there are 927.56 million wireless internet subscribers against 42.04 million internet subscribers (as of June’ 2024) having wired connectivity in their homes or offices. Thus, at present, most of the population is dependent on wireless networks to access the internet.

    Despite significant coverage of 4G (LTE) network and rollout of 5G network, availability of more spectrum bands, the coverage and quality of digital connectivity inside buildings remains a major issue which need to be addressed largely through collaboration of service providers and property managers.

    The regulations have been finalised after following a detailed consultative process through a consultation paper on “Regulation on Rating Framework for Digital Connectivity in Buildings or Areas” was released on the TRAI website on 27 September 2023 inviting written comments from the stakeholders. An Open House Discussion (OHD) through Virtual mode, was held with the stakeholders, on 18 June 2024.

    The salient features of the regulations include following:

    1    A rating platform, an information technology system and associated applications shall be set up or authorized by the TRAI for the purpose of managing rating of properties for digital connectivity as per provisions of the regulations The rating process shall be implemented through the rating platform only.

    2    Any entity fulfilling the eligibility criteria intending to commence activity as Digital Connectivity Rating Agency (DCRA) shall be empanelled by the Authority through registration on the rating platform.

    3    Property manager, who intends to apply for the rating of his/her property of minimum specified size, shall register on the rating platform, in such manner and format and upon payment of such fees, as may be specified by the Authority.

    4    The properties, for the purpose of rating for digital connectivity, are classified in the different categories namely- Residential, Government Properties, Commercial Establishments, Other private or public areas, Stadiums or Sport Arenas or spaces of frequent gathering and Transport corridors.

    5    The DCRA shall disclose the fee to be charged and other terms and conditions, if any, to the property manager and get their acceptance before commencement of any rating activity.

    6    The fees charged by DCRA shall be based on the category and classification of properties, the responsibility of DCRA under the provisions of these regulations, the complexity involved, the area of the property, etc.

    7    No telecom service provider shall enter into an exclusive arrangement or tie-up arrangement with any property manager for development or access of digital connectivity or digital connectivity infrastructure in their property.

    8    For the purposes of rating for digital connectivity, Model Building Bye Laws (MBBL) issued by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) shall be referred to in cases where MBBL of State or Union Territory do not have provisions for digital connectivity infrastructure.

    9    DCRA shall evaluate the property and assign scores, on the rating platform, against each rating criteria and sub-criteria. Digital Connectivity Rating shall be awarded to the property starting from one star to five star. The detailed guidelines for award of score and process shall be issued separately as per provisions of these regulations.

    10    The Authority shall notify the date on which the rating platform shall be made live. Further, the Authority may, till the development of online rating platform, provide an alternate mechanism for rating of property.

    These regulations shall apply to –

    a    Property managers who intend to get their property, of minimum specified size, rated for digital connectivity, either voluntarily or under the provisions of applicable laws, rules or regulations.

    b    Digital Connectivity Rating Agency (DCRA), who may evaluate and award ratings for property under these regulations; and

    c    The service providers, who may enter an arrangement with the property manager for development or access of digital connectivity or digital connectivity infrastructure.

    The regulations shall come into force with effect from 25 October 2024.

  • TRAI releases telecom subscription data report for 31 July 2024

    TRAI releases telecom subscription data report for 31 July 2024

    Mumbai: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has published its telecom subscription data report for 31 July 2024. The report revealed that Reliance Jio experienced a decline of 0.7 million users, despite gaining 1.91 million in June. In contrast, state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) saw a significant increase, adding 2.9 million users in July, benefiting from a period when its private competitors raised their tariffs.

    In June, BSNL had lost 0.74 million users, but the subsequent tariff hikes implemented by private operators prompted many users to switch. The three major private players—Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea (Vi)—all raised their prices in early July, with BSNL maintaining its existing rates.

    Airtel was particularly affected, losing 1.69 million subscribers in July after previously adding 1.25 million in June. Vi also faced a setback, losing 1.41 million users, although this was an improvement compared to its June loss of 0.86 million. Notably, Vi has experienced ongoing subscriber losses for over a year, until Airtel recently surpassed it.

    The tariff hikes, which occurred around 3-4 July, varied in magnitude; Airtel’s increases were smaller than Jio’s, which ranged from 12 to 25 per cent. These adjustments notably impacted Airtel’s 2G subscriber base, while Jio chose not to alter its pricing in that segment. Meanwhile, Vi has concentrated on offering unlimited data plans with various validity periods ranging from 28 days to a year.

  • TRAI releases paper on review of telecom customer preference regulations

    TRAI releases paper on review of telecom customer preference regulations

    Mumbai – The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued a consultation paper seeking public comments on “Review of the Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations, 2018 (TCCCPR-2018)” The TCCCPR-20 18 was implemented in February-20 19 to address the issue of Unsolicited Commercial Communications (UCC). These regulations aim to protect consumers from unwanted promotional calls and messages, while allowing businesses to send targeted communications to customers who have consented for or set preferences to receive them. During implementation of the regulatory frameworks, certain issues have been observed. This paper aims to bring forward issues observed during implementation, and which need immediate attention. The provisions of regulations related to these issues may need amendment.

    The broad category of issues discussed in the consultation paper includes the following- ” Definitions of Commercial Communications. ” Provisions related to the Complaint Redressal. ” UCC Detect System and action thereof. ” Provisions related to Financial Disincentives. ” Provisions related to Senders and Telemarketers. ” Analysis of high number of voice calls and SMS. TRAI is seeking input on areas to strengthen the regulations, including stricter provisions against the Unregistered Telemarketers (UTMs) who harass the public through spam calls, improved complaint redressal mechanisms, more effective UCC detection systems, stronger financial disincentives for violation of regulatory provisions, and revised regulations for senders and telemarketers. The paper also explores the possibility of differential tariffs for voice calls and SMS to discourage UCC.

    Written comments on the consultation paper are invited from the stakeholders by 25 September 2024. Counter comments may be submitted by 9 October 2024.