TRAI Releases its Recommendations on ‘Rating
of Buildings or Areas for Digital Connectivity’
<Recommendations on Rating of Buildings or Areas for
Digital Connectivity>
The Telecom Regulatory
Authority of India (TRAI)
on 20 February, 2023 released
its recommendations on "Rating
of Buildings or Areas for Digital Connectivity".
The exponential growth in digitalization
during last decade has revolutionized the world impacting everything, from economy,
innovation, science and education, to health, sustainability, governance, and lifestyles.
Digital technologies are fundamentally changing business models, institutions and
society. The demand for digital connectivity has increased many folds in recent
years and COVID-19 has further given impetus to surge in the demand across all segments
of users, irrespective of their locations.
In the past, Telecom Regulatory Authority
of India (TRAI) and the Government have taken various policy initiatives to fulfil
the demands of telecom connectivity. These policy interventions have helped in improving
connectivity, resulting in wider coverage and higher data throughput. However, all
these efforts have fallen short in achieving the desired level of digital connectivity
experience of the users, who now prefer to work from anywhere, at any time. The
rollout of 5G network has further stimulated the need of seamless experience of
the 5G services, specifically inside the buildings.
TRAI has conducted many studies to assess
the quality of connectivity, identify challenges in providing connectivity and to
suggest the way forward. Based on these studies TRAI published a Monograph on “Quest
for a Good Quality Network inside Multi-Storey Residential Apartments: Reimagining
ways to improve quality”.
Based on the above, TRAI undertook the
process of consultation on Suo-moto basis to provide a framework for establishment
of an eco-system wherein Digital Connectivity Infrastructure becomes part of all
development activities. TRAI issued Consultation
Paper (CP) on “Rating of Buildings or Areas for Digital Connectivity” on
25th March 2022, to
seek inputs from stakeholders on issues raised, by 07th July 2022.
Based on the comments received, discussions
held with stakeholders during the Open House Discussion and analysis thereof, the
recommendations of the TRAI on
"Rating of Buildings or Areas for Digital
Connectivity" have been finalized. The emphasis of these recommendations
is on providing a framework for creation of an ecosystem
for Digital Connectivity Infrastructure (DCI) to be an intrinsic part of building
development plan similar to other building services such as water, electricity or
Fire Safety System. DCI is to be co-designed and cocreated along with building development
through collaborations among various stakeholders including Property Managers
(owner or developer or builder etc.), service providers, infrastructure providers, DCI Professionals and Authorities at
various urban/local bodies.
This framework shall also open job opportunities for the young professionals to
become DCI Professionals and be part of Design, Deployment and Evaluation of Digital
Connectivity Infrastructure.
TRAI has also proposed a new chapter on
‘Digital Connectivity Infrastructures in Buildings’ to be included in Model
Building Bye Laws 2016 by modifying and updating existing provisions added in MBBL
as Annexure through an Addendum to Model Building Bye Laws 2016 titled “Provisions
for In- Building Solutions Digital Communication Infrastructure” issued by Town
and Country Planning Organization (TCPO) of Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
(MoHUA), in March 2022.
TRAI further emphasized that Digital Connectivity
Infrastructure (DCI) developed in the Buildings by the Property Managers (Developers,
Builders etc) should be accessible to all service providers in a fair, transparent,
non-discriminatory and non-chargeable basis.
The recommendations also include development
of framework for Rating of the buildings for digital connectivity, which will add
value to the property. TRAI will come up, separately, with appropriate regulatory
framework for Rating of Buildings, which will also include the issue of Rating certification.
Salient features of the recommendations
of TRAI on "Rating of Buildings or Areas for Digital Connectivity"
are enclosed as ‘Annexure-1’ to this press release.
These recommendations are placed on TRAI's
website www.trai.gov.in. For any clarification/information, Shri
Tejpal Singh, Advisor (QoS-I), TRAI, may be contacted on email: adv-qos1@trai.gov.in or at Tel. No: +91-11-2323-3602.