**Summary:**
On August 25, 2025, the Forum of Indian Regulators (FoIR), in collaboration with the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), conducted an online session on the Framework for Rating of Properties on Digital Connectivity. The session aimed to foster knowledge sharing and collaboration among regulators from various sectors, including finance, education, transport, housing, and healthcare, to integrate digital connectivity infrastructure into real estate and infrastructure planning.
Shri Ravi Mital, Honorary Chairperson of FoIR and Chairman of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI), emphasized the critical role of robust digital connectivity across sectors and commended TRAI for introducing the Rating of Properties for Digital Connectivity Regulations, 2024. Shri Anil Kumar Lahoti, Chairperson of TRAI, highlighted that a significant portion (over 70-80%) of mobile data traffic in India is consumed indoors, underscoring the need for Digital Connectivity Infrastructure (DCI) planning, akin to essential utilities like electricity and water.
TRAI's Regulations, 2024, introduce a voluntary star-rating system for properties, with a Manual for Assessment of Digital Connectivity released on August 13, 2025, to guide evaluations. Eight Digital Connectivity Rating Agencies (DCRAs) have been registered to operationalize the framework, with more applications under review. Shri Tejpal Singh, Advisor QoSI, TRAI, presented the methodology and rating parameters, which include fibre readiness, indoor signal strength, mobile and wired network availability, WiFi enablement, and the resilience of connectivity infrastructure. This initiative aligns with national priorities such as Digital India and the Smart Cities Mission. Over 80 senior officers from FoIR and other organizations participated in the session.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Communications: The Indian government ministry responsible for communications and information technology.
Forum of Indian Regulators (FoIR): A collaborative platform for various regulatory bodies in India.
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI): The independent regulator of the telecommunications business in India.
Insolvency Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI): The regulator for overseeing insolvency proceedings and entities in India.
Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC): The regulatory body for the power sector in India.
Petroleum Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB): The regulatory body for the petroleum and natural gas sector in India.
Competition Commission of India (CCI): A statutory body responsible for enforcing The Competition Act, 2002, to promote competition and prevent anti-competitive practices in India.
Digital India: A Government of India initiative to ensure that Government services are made available to citizens electronically by improved online infrastructure and by increasing Internet connectivity.
Ministry of Communications
FoIR Organises Online Session on TRAI’s
Framework for Rating of Properties on Digital
Connectivity
Posted On: 25 AUG 2025 4:54PM by PIB Delhi
The Forum of Indian Regulators (FoIR) in collaboration with the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India
(TRAI) today organised an online interactive session on the Framework for Rating of Properties on Digital
Connectivity.
The session, attended by FoIR Members along with senior representatives from Insolvency & Bankruptcy
Board of India (IBBI), Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC), Petroleum & Natural Gas
Regulatory Board (PNGRB), Competition Commission of India (CCI), State Electricity Regulatory
Commissions (SERCs), Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (AERA), provided a platform to
share knowledge and exchange perspectives on mainstreaming digital connectivity infrastructure in real estate
and infrastructure planning in the country across different sectors. More than 80 senior officers from FoIR and
other organisations participated in the online session.
The session began with the inaugural address by Shri Ravi Mital, Honorary Chairperson, FoIR &
Chairman, IBBI. He emphasised that robust digital connectivity is now a foundational requirement
across all sectors viz. finance, education, transport, housing, healthcare and beyond. He
commended TRAI for bringing forward the Rating of Properties for Digital Connectivity Regulations,
2024 and underlined the importance of cross-sectoral collaboration among regulators to embed
digital connectivity readiness into planning and governance frameworks.
This was followed by the address of Shri Anil Kumar Lahoti, Chairperson, TRAI, who highlighted
that over 70-80% of mobile data traffic in India is consumed indoors, yet coverage gaps still persist
in many premises. With the adoption of advanced technologies like 5G, indoor connectivity requires
planning of Digital Connectivity Infrastructure (DCI), including fibre entry, ducting, cable trays,
rooftop access, Wi-Fi readiness and resilience, as part of core infrastructure planning, similar to
electricity and water supply.
Chairperson, TRAI, further informed participants that TRAI had notified the Regulations, 2024
introducing a voluntary star-rating system for properties and had released the Manual for
Assessment of Digital Connectivity on 13 August 2025, to guide evaluations. He added that
TRAI has already registered eight Digital Connectivity Rating Agencies (DCRAs) to
operationalise this framework, with more applications under review.
During the technical session, Shri Tejpal Singh, Advisor (QoS-I), TRAI, delivered a detailed
presentation on the digital connectivity rating framework and progress on its operationalisation. The
presentation highlighted methodology and rating parameters such as fibre readiness, indoor signal
strength, mobile and wired network availability, Wi-Fi enablement and resilience of connectivity
infrastructure.
This engagement is part of TRAI’s ongoing outreach with stakeholders to raise awareness and
promote adoption of its digital connectivity rating framework in line with national priorities such as
Digital India and the Smart Cities Mission.
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Samrat/Allen(Release ID: 2160590)