SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure | SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) | Ministry of Communications | Department of Telecommunications (DoT)
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) Annual Report for 2024-25 highlights a transformative phase for India’s digital landscape, characterized by the rapid rollout of 5G services and a robust expansion of the telecom subscriber base. As of February 2025, India successfully installed 4.69 lakh 5G Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs), enabling approximately 25 crore mobile subscribers to transition to 5G technology.
Subscriber Growth: The total telecom subscriber base reached 1200.80 million, with mobile broadband users surging to 944.12 million.
Rural Connectivity: Under the Digital Bharat Nidhi initiative, TRAI recommended significant infrastructure enhancements for underserved regions, including Ladakh and the Northeastern states.
Financial Performance: TRAI received revenue grants of ₹118.40 crore and utilized ₹104.35 crore, maintaining a strong focus on fiscal transparency and operational efficiency.
Consumer Protection and Regulatory Evolution
TRAI has implemented stringent measures to safeguard consumer interests, particularly through the revamp of the “Do Not Disturb” (DND 3.0) ecosystem and new Quality of Service (QoS) regulations. These initiatives aim to curb the menace of spam calls and fraudulent SMS while ensuring higher benchmarks for network reliability and data speeds.
Spam Mitigation: Significant regulatory amendments were made to prevent the misuse of SMS headers and content templates by unscrupulous elements.
Institutional Strengthening: TRAI relocated to its new permanent headquarters at the NBCC World Trade Centre, New Delhi, signaling a new era of administrative independence.
Broadcasting Growth: The Media and Entertainment sector reached a milestone of ₹2.5 trillion in 2024, contributing 0.73 percent to India’s GDP.
Future Roadmap
TRAI Annual Report for 2024-25 also outlines a strategic vision to transition India from a 5G-ready nation to a global digital leader. With a subscriber base of 120 crore citizens and over 25 crore 5G users, TRAI is shifting its focus toward “Next-Generation Regulation” that prioritizes quality of service and technological sovereignty.
Key pillars of the future roadmap include:
The 5G & 6G Leap: Accelerating the deployment of 4.69 lakh 5G base stations while initiating research into 6G, quantum computing, and blockchain through the TRAI Centre of Studies and Research (TCSR).
Digital Infrastructure Rating: Development of the Digital Connectivity Rating Portal (DCRP) to incentivize the co-creation of high-quality digital infrastructure within residential and commercial buildings.
Stricter Consumer Safeguards: Implementing the DND 3.0 app and AI-driven systems to eliminate unsolicited commercial communications (UCC) and spam.
Revised QoS Standards: Enforcing tighter network benchmarks for call drops, latency, and packet loss to ensure that “high-speed” translates to high reliability.
Universal Access: Utilizing the Digital Bharat Nidhi to enhance broadband backhaul in underserved regions like Ladakh and the Northeast.
Regulatory Sandbox: Establishing a “live testing” environment for startups to trial innovative business models in IoT, M2M, and AR/VR without immediate regulatory hurdles.
Policy Relevance
TRAI’s roadmap is a direct implementation of the Telecommunications Act, 2023, moving away from archaic licensing to a modern “Authorization” regime. It aligns with the Viksit Bharat @2047 goal of making India a hub for global digital standards rather than just a consumer of technology.
Strategic Impact for India:
Infrastructure Resilience: By pushing for Spectrum Sharing and Leasing, TRAI is maximizing the utility of national assets, allowing for more efficient network management.
Digital Inclusion: The focus on rural connectivity ensures that the benefits of the digital economy—like tele-medicine and e-education—reach the most vulnerable populations.
Global Leadership: Active participation in global forums like the ITU and SATRC allows India to shape international telecom rules that favor the Global South.
Financial Independence: TRAI’s proposal to fund its operations through a portion of License Fees marks a shift toward greater institutional autonomy and reduced reliance on government grants.
What is the Digital Connectivity Rating Portal (DCRP)? It is a new TRAI initiative that rates residential and commercial properties based on the quality of their internal digital infrastructure. Similar to energy star ratings, DCRP incentivizes property managers to install high-quality fiber optics and signal boosters, ensuring that “last-inch” connectivity within buildings matches the high-speed 5G networks outside.
What is the Digital Bharat Nidhi? Formerly known as the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF), the Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) is a dedicated fund established under the Telecommunications Act, 2023. Its primary objective is to provide financial support for the proliferation of telecom and broadband services in commercially unviable rural, remote, and far-flung areas, ensuring equitable digital access across India.
Follow the full report here: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) Annual Report for 2024-25