New Delhi | July 17, 2025 —
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) hosted a half-day workshop at its headquarters in New Delhi to promote its innovative Framework for Rating of Properties for Digital Connectivity. The event brought together nearly 100 senior officials from various Central Government Ministries, Departments, and key infrastructure bodies such as BIS, CPWD, NBCC, School of Planning and Architecture, and Town and Country Planning Organisations.
The workshop focused on spreading awareness about the critical role of integrated digital connectivity planning in infrastructure development and encouraging adoption of the Digital Connectivity Rating Regulations, 2024, notified by TRAI on 25th October 2024.
A New Era of Digitally-Ready Infrastructure
The newly introduced voluntary, performance-based star rating system assesses how well a property or infrastructure supports high-quality broadband and mobile services. It covers a wide range of structures, including:
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Residential and commercial buildings
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Government offices
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Airports, highways, and railway stations
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Hospitals, stadiums, schools, and smart urban facilities
The initiative is akin to green building or energy efficiency certifications, but with a focus on digital readiness. It encourages developers, architects, and policymakers to factor in digital connectivity right from the design and planning stages.
Connectivity as Essential as Water and Power
In his keynote address, Shri Anil Kumar Lahoti, Chairperson, TRAI, stressed the foundational importance of Digital Connectivity Infrastructure (DCI) in today’s built environment.
“With 70-80% of mobile data consumed indoors, digital connectivity is no longer a luxury — it is a basic need, just like electricity or water,” Shri Lahoti remarked.
He urged government agencies and infrastructure developers to incorporate DCI specifications into project guidelines, tenders, and training modules, ensuring that India’s future buildings are ‘digital-by-design’.
Technical Insights and Collaborative Dialogue
The workshop included a technical session led by Shri Tejpal Singh, Advisor (QoS-1), TRAI, who presented the framework in detail. Key rating criteria outlined included:
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Availability of fibre entry points
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Indoor mobile signal strength
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Rooftop access for antenna installation
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Wi-Fi and 5G readiness
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Ease of operator access for maintenance and upgrades
Shri Abhishek Sharma, Scientist ‘B’ from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), also highlighted revisions to the National Building Code (NBC) 2016, aimed at aligning building norms with telecom infrastructure needs.
The event concluded with an interactive Q&A session, where experts and ministry officials discussed strategies to overcome indoor connectivity challenges and align national standards with practical implementation.
Supporting Digital India and Smart Cities
This framework directly complements national programmes like Digital India and the Smart Cities Mission, aiming to democratise digital access by embedding connectivity in every corner of urban and rural India. By creating properties that are ‘connectivity-ready,’ the initiative paves the way for high-speed, seamless digital services for all citizens.
TRAI reaffirmed its commitment to engaging with stakeholders through similar workshops, consultations, and training initiatives, to accelerate India’s transition to a digitally resilient infrastructure ecosystem.
Source: PIB
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