New Delhi, 06 November (H.S.): The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has amended the regulations governing the registration and maintenance of interconnection agreements between telecom service providers. Under the revised framework, all service providers will be required to register their agreements, along with any subsequent modifications, online through the TRAI portal. The amended regulations will come into effect on January 1, 2027.

On Friday, TRAI issued the ‘Register of Interconnect Agreements (Fourth Amendment) Regulations, 2026’. Under the revised provisions, all existing agreements in force as of January 1, 2027, must be uploaded to the portal within 15 days of that date. Newly executed agreements, as well as any amendments to existing agreements, must also be registered within 15 days of their execution or modification. The earlier requirement to submit printed copies accompanied by soft copies on floppy disks or diskettes has been discontinued.

Under the amended regulations, electronic copies of agreements must be submitted in a text-searchable PDF format. Applications for inspecting the register, accessing specified portions of it, and obtaining copies or extracts will also be processed through the TRAI portal. This will enable people to access the register online in addition to the existing physical inspection facility.

TRAI may also seek detailed information from service providers on different categories of interconnection agreements in a prescribed format and within specified time limits. This is expected to facilitate the availability of standardised information relating to such agreements and strengthen regulatory monitoring.

The amendments prescribe an inspection fee of Rs. 1,500 per hour or part thereof. Applicants seeking copies or extracts of the register will be required to pay Rs. 500 per page. The revised fee structure is aligned with the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Access to Information) Regulations, 2005. The regulations also provide for graded financial penalties for violations, with the level of penalty determined by the nature and severity of the contravention.

According to TRAI, interconnection in the telecommunications sector refers to the technical and commercial arrangements through which two or more networks are connected, enabling subscribers of different service providers to communicate with one another. Under sub-clauses (vii) and (viii) of Section 11(1)(b) of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997, the authority is empowered to maintain a register of interconnection agreements and make it available for public inspection, subject to prescribed fees and conditions.

TRAI initiated a review of the existing framework by issuing a pre-consultation paper on April 3, 2025. Subsequently, it released a consultation paper on November 10, 2025, inviting suggestions and comments from stakeholders. During the consultation process, 17 stakeholders submitted their comments, while nine submitted counter-comments. An open-house discussion on the subject was also held on January 28, 2026. The amended regulations were finalised after considering the suggestions received and analysing the feedback submitted during the consultation process.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar