The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) yesterday released a consultation paper titled ‘Review of Existing TRAI Regulations on Interconnection Matters’, initiating a comprehensive exercise to modernize India’s telecom interconnection framework.

The review seeks to update and consolidate the regulatory architecture governing how telecom operators connect and exchange traffic, in light of rapid technological changes including 4G, 5G, and satellite-based services, the regulator said yesterday while making available the consultation background paper.

The regulator said the consultation aims to ensure that interconnection rules remain relevant to the evolving telecom ecosystem and resilient to future innovations. It will examine all the nine existing interconnection regulations issued since 1999, covering key areas such as usage charges, port charges, revenue sharing, and reference interconnect offers. The review also seeks to create a framework that ensures fair competition, non-discrimination, and efficient connectivity between operators.

A major focus of the paper is on facilitating Internet Protocol (IP)-based interconnection, which has become essential for next-generation mobile and broadband services. With the expansion of 4G and 5G networks, TRAI noted the need for robust IP-based interconnection to enhance service quality.

The consultation will also study interconnection frameworks for emerging technologies, including satellite-based telecom networks, and assess the placement and functioning of Points of Interconnect (PoIs), especially between satellite gateways and terrestrial networks.

Over the past two decades, TRAI’s interconnection framework has evolved through multiple regulations — starting with the Register of Interconnect Agreements Regulations, 1999 and extending to the Telecommunication Interconnection Regulations, 2018.

The consultation will also revisit the structure of various interconnection-related charges, including origination, transit, carriage, and termination fees, as well as the Reference Interconnect Offer (RIO) framework that defines commercial terms between operators. The exercise aims to simplify and align these mechanisms with present-day network realities and international best practices.