New Delhi, May 13, 2025:
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued a draft manual under the “Rating of Properties for Digital Connectivity Regulations, 2024,” inviting stakeholder feedback on its proposed framework for assessing digital infrastructure in real estate.
The manual, released on May 13, 2025, aims to offer a uniform methodology for evaluating and rating buildings and areas based on their digital connectivity readiness – a move expected to enhance in-building 4G and 5G performance and guide property development towards tech-friendly designs.
As per TRAI, the new manual is a critical step toward implementing the broader regulatory framework released in October 2024. The draft is available for public review on TRAI’s official website www.trai.gov.in with comments invited until June 2, 2025, and counter-comments by June 9, 2025.
Highlighting the importance of the initiative, TRAI noted that in-building digital connectivity has become indispensable due to the rise in data consumption indoors. High-frequency 4G and 5G bands – which offer high-speed internet – often face signal attenuation inside buildings, leading to degraded service.
The draft manual outlines specific parameters for assessment including fiber readiness, mobile signal availability, in-building distributed antenna systems (DAS), Wi-Fi infrastructure, and service quality metrics. These components will form the basis of property ratings, allowing potential buyers, tenants, or investors to make informed choices based on digital infrastructure.
“Digital connectivity is not just a convenience anymore; it’s a necessity that impacts everything from education and healthcare to work and governance,” a TRAI official said. “This framework promotes co-creation of digital infrastructure during the property development phase.”
The Authority has also previously submitted related recommendations to the government in February 2023, emphasizing the need for an ecosystem where digital connectivity infrastructure (DCI) is planned as an integral part of urban and rural development projects.
Under the proposed structure, Digital Connectivity Rating Agencies (DCRAs) will be designated to carry out property assessments, while Property Managers (PMs) and telecom service providers are expected to play key roles in implementing the recommendations.
According to the manual, the ratings will serve as a transparent benchmark and be useful for:
Tenants and buyers to evaluate digital readiness of buildings
Developers and PMs to enhance property value through better connectivity
Telecom operators to plan network upgrades efficiently
TRAI believes that this initiative will not only benefit end users but also encourage competitive service deployment, ensure equitable access to digital resources, and attract investments in digitally compliant real estate.
Stakeholders interested in providing feedback are encouraged to use the format outlined in Annexure-I of the draft. For further clarification, TRAI has provided a point of contact – Tejpal Singh, Advisor (QoS-I), who can be reached via email at adv-qos1@trai.gov.in or on +91-11-20907759.
As India transitions into a digitally-powered economy, this move by TRAI could redefine the way real estate is evaluated, ensuring connectivity becomes a core component of property infrastructure in the years to come.
