Latest news with #DigitalConnectivityInfrastructure
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Robust digital connectivity essential as water, electricity and structural safety: TRAI chairman
New Delhi: The new framework for rating of properties for digital connectivity provides a clear, transparent and technology-neutral approach for property developers, infrastructure providers and government agencies to plan, implement, evaluate and improve digital connectivity readiness across various types of premises -- homes, offices, schools, hospitals, transport hubs and smart urban spaces, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India ( TRAI ) Chairperson, Anil Kumar Lahoti , said on Thursday. Speaking at a workshop on 'Framework for Rating of Properties for Digital Connectivity' at TRAI headquarters here, Lahoti highlighted that robust digital connectivity has become as essential as water, electricity and structural safety, especially since an estimated 70-80 per cent of mobile data traffic is now consumed indoors. He emphasised the need for Digital Connectivity Infrastructure (DCI) -- the civil, physical and technological components that enable seamless access to telecom networks -- to be planned and embedded at the design stage, rather than added as an afterthought. The event aimed to build awareness about importance of planning digital connectivity infrastructure as a part of property or infrastructure development plan and promote institutional adoption of the Rating of Properties for Digital Connectivity Regulations, 2024, notified by TRAI on October 25, 2024. The regulation introduces a voluntary, performance-based star rating system, similar to green building or energy efficiency ratings, to assess how digitally ready a property or infrastructure is for delivering high-quality broadband and mobile connectivity. The property or infrastructure includes residential buildings, commercial complexes, government offices, airports, highways, stadiums, and railway stations, among others. The TRAI chairperson urged Ministries, Departments and institutions to integrate DCI requirements into project guidelines, model tender documents and training curricula, so that India's built environment is future-ready by design. This framework aligns with flagship national programmes such as Digital India and Smart Cities Mission, supporting the long-term goal of inclusive, high-quality digital access for every citizen. TRAI said it will continue its stakeholder engagement through such workshops, consultations and capacity-building initiatives to facilitate the creation of robust digital connectivity infrastructure in the country.
India Gazette
13-05-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
TRAI releases draft manual on rating of properties, seeks stakeholder views
New Delhi [India], May 13 (ANI): The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released the draft manual for assessing property ratings for digital connectivity. According to the telecom regulator, the rating manual will enable the Digital Connectivity Rating Agencies (DCRAS) to adopt a uniform assessment methodology for rating properties. It will also provide a standard reference for Property Managers (PMs) when creating Digital Connectivity Infrastructure (DCI) in their properties. The full text of the draft manual is available on TRAI's website. Digital connectivity is vital to the way we live and work. The exponential growth in digitalisation during the last decade has revolutionised the world, impacting everything from the economy, innovation, science, and education to health, sustainability, governance, and lifestyle. Citing unnamed reports, TRAI said maximum data consumption happens inside buildings. Therefore, digital connectivity has become crucial in buildings, especially for 4G and 5G networks, which use high-frequency bands to deliver high-speed data rates. Still, they get attenuated due to walls and building materials. In major step to address issues of digital connectivity inside buildings, the telecom regulator has submitted recommendations to the Government on 'Rating of Buildings or Areas for Digital Connectivity' on February 20, 2023. TRAI said the recommendations aim to create an ecosystem for co-creating Digital Connectivity Infrastructure (DCI) as part of any development activity. Further to the above recommendations, TRAI also released the regulation 'Rating of Properties for Digital Connectivity Regulations, 2024' on October 25, 2024, to introduce a framework for rating properties for digital connectivity and promote the creation of good digital connectivity through a collaborative and self-sustainable approach. With these latest recommendations, a property with better ratings will attract more users, buyers, or investors and thereby add value to it. TRAI proposed that the properties be evaluated based on defined parameters in the regulation, such as fiber readiness, mobile network availability, in-building solutions, Wi-Fi infrastructure, service performance, etc. 'The rating manual will serve as a structured framework designed to ensure a fair, transparent, and standardised approach to assessing digital connectivity under the provisions of the regulation,' TRAI said. 'A structured rating system enables prospective tenants and buyers to compare properties based on their connectivity rating, ensuring they choose locations with the best digital infrastructure,' TRAI added. The stakeholders are invited to submit their comments and feedback, by June 2, 2025, at the latest, and counter comments by June 9, 2025. (ANI)
