TRAI issues interconnection amendments requiring migration to internet protocol networks

On 3 November 2026, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India issued the Telecommunication Interconnection (Third Amendment) Regulations, 2026. They take effect on 1 January 2027. New interconnections after commencement must use internet protocol, while existing connections will migrate within three years in phases. Traffic at older local points must similarly move to Licensed Service Area points over three years. Providers can mutually settle handover locations.

Facts to remember

• Regulator: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, commonly called TRAI.
• Commencement: 1 January 2027; phased migration period: three years.
• New connections must use internet protocol after commencement.
• Section 11(1)(b) of the TRAI Act, 1997 covers interconnection terms and technical compatibility.

Background

Interconnection joins separate telecommunications networks so that customers using different providers can communicate. Regulation therefore concerns how networks work together, as well as the conditions on which operators exchange traffic. Section 11(1)(b) of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997 gives the regulator functions concerning interconnection conditions, technical compatibility and effective interconnection. The Act provides the institutional framework for regulating telecommunications services and protecting the interests of both service providers and consumers. This statutory setting helps explain why a technical network change is also a public regulation issue. The relevant distinction for revision is between the parent legislation, which supplies authority, and regulations, which specify the operational framework within that authority.

Why it matters for exams

For CLAT, APO and UGC-NET Law, revise statutory regulators and delegated legislation. Link the commencement date and migration period with the broader Polity topic of infrastructure regulation.