In response to Unstarred Question No. 1832 in Lok Sabha, answered on December 10, 2025, regarding the "Digital Interconnection Mandate," the Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development (Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar) stated that the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is reviewing existing interconnection regulations. This review aims to ensure the regulatory framework accounts for technological evolution and changes in the telecommunications sector. TRAI released a consultation paper on "Review of existing TRAI Regulations on Interconnection matters" on November 10, 2025, inviting comments from stakeholders. TRAI will make decisions related to interconnection regulations based on the outcome of the ongoing consultation process. The question pertains to whether TRAI has proposed mandating “all-IP digital interconnection” between telecom service providers to improve telco-to-telco call quality, the details and rationale of such a proposal, and the steps taken by the Government to ensure timely adoption of digital interconnection by all operators.
Key Entities Referenced
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI): The regulator responsible for the review of interconnection regulations.
Ministry of Communications: The ministry to which the question regarding the digital interconnection mandate is addressed.
Digital Interconnection Mandate: The policy being discussed, concerning digital interconnection between telecom service providers.
"Review of existing TRAI Regulations on Interconnection matters": A consultation paper released by TRAI to review interconnection matters.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1832
ANSWERED ON 10TH DECEMBER, 2025
DIGITAL INTERCONNECTION MANDATE
1832. SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB:
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has proposed mandating “all-IP
digital interconnection” between telecom service providers to improve telco-to-telco call quality;
(b) if so, the details and rationale of this proposal; and
(c) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to ensure timely adoption of digital
interconnection by all operators?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)
(a) to (c) Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is undertaking a comprehensive
review of existing interconnection regulations to ensure that the regulatory framework takes into
account evolution of technology and changes in the telecommunications sector.
Consultation paper on "Review of existing TRAI Regulations on Interconnection matters"
has been released by TRAI on 10.11.2025. Comments on the issues raised in the consultation paper
are invited from the stakeholders. Based on the outcome of the ongoing consultation process with
the stakeholders, suitable decisions on the matters related to Interconnection regulations will be taken
by TRAI.
*****
1