TRAI releases 'Rating of Properties for Digital Connectivity (Amendment) Regulations, 2026'

📌 Summary:

• The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released the "Rating of Properties for Digital Connectivity (Amendment) Regulations, 2026 (3 of 2026)" on 13 May 2026
• The amendments follow a Consultation Paper issued on 27 February 2026 and feedback from Property Managers, Digital Connectivity Rating Agencies (DCRAs) and service providers on the parent 2024 Regulations
• Key amendment 1: the rating scale is expanded from five to nine levels by introducing additional half-star levels, enabling finer differentiation among properties and better visibility of incremental improvements
• Key amendment 2: under-construction properties are now eligible to apply for ratings — a DCRA will issue a "Designed For" certificate at design stage, an "Installation Completed For" certificate after In-Building Solutions are installed, and a "Final" rating once services are operational
• Key amendment 3: property type categorisation has been aligned with assessment criteria for more accurate evaluation
• The changes aim to improve transparency during construction, encourage early integration of digital connectivity infrastructure (DCI) in building design, and strengthen accountability between design commitments and actual implementation

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS2 — role of statutory regulators (TRAI) in governance; consumer empowerment and transparency in the digital connectivity ecosystem.

📝 Prelims Facts:

• TRAI is a statutory body established under the TRAI Act, 1997
• The amended regulations expand the digital connectivity rating scale from five to nine levels (with half-star levels)
• Property ratings are awarded by Digital Connectivity Rating Agencies (DCRAs)
• The parent regulation is the Rating of Properties for Digital Connectivity Regulations, 2024

🔑 Key Term: Digital Connectivity Infrastructure (DCI) — the in-building telecom infrastructure (such as In-Building Solutions) that determines the quality of mobile and broadband connectivity within a property, now rated on a nine-level scale.