August 26, 2025

Is your building ready for the 5G wave? The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is shaking things up to make sure your mobile phone never loses signal indoors. "Nearly 70 to 80 per cent of India's mobile data traffic is consumed indoors," revealed TRAI Chairperson Anil Kumar Lahoti. Yet, indoor coverage is still patchy, leaving many frustrated. Why is indoor connectivity such a big deal? With exciting new tech like 5G arriving, it's not just about towers outside anymore. Lahoti stressed the need for Digital Connectivity Infrastructure (DCI) planning inside buildings—things like fibre optic entry points, cable trays, rooftop access, Wi-Fi readiness, and tough resilience. His vision? To make digital infrastructure a basic utility, just like water and electricity. TRAI is turning this dream into reality by launching a star-rating system for properties, introduced in their 2024 regulations. This system rates how ready a building is to support smooth digital signals indoors. To help, TRAI released a Manual for Assessment of Digital Connectivity on August 13, 2025, guiding how these ratings work. Already, eight Digital Connectivity Rating Agencies (DCRAs) are on board, ready to rate buildings, with more joining soon. Lahoti spoke about this at a lively online session hosted by TRAI and The Forum of Indian Regulators (FoIR), where leaders from many sectors joined in. Representatives from groups like the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI), Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC), Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB), and others participated. Ravi Mital, Honorary Chairperson of FoIR and Chairman of IBBI, chimed in saying, "robust digital connectivity is now a foundational requirement across all sectors — finance, education, transport, housing, healthcare and beyond." He praised TRAI's move and called for strong teamwork among regulators to make digital readiness a key part of planning and governance. This exciting push aligns perfectly with India’s big dreams like Digital India and the Smart Cities Mission. TRAI’s efforts aim to get digital connectivity to every nook and corner of our buildings, so that next time you scroll your phone inside your home or office, you won't face a single glitch!

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Tags: Trai, Indoor connectivity, Digital connectivity infrastructure, 5g, Star-rating system, Digital india,