TRAI issues amended Rating Manual 2026 for assessment of digital connectivity
Digital Connectivity Rating Agencies, property managers and service providers must apply TRAI's amended assessment manual immediately
Change
On 9 June 2026, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released the amended 'Rating Manual 2026' for assessment of Digital Connectivity, giving effect to the amended Rating of Properties for Digital Connectivity Regulations, 2026 (notified 13 May 2026); the Manual comes into force with immediate effect.
Why it matters
The amended Manual updates the framework that Digital Connectivity Rating Agencies, property managers and service providers apply when rating in-building connectivity. It introduces a structured multi-stage assessment and certification process for under-construction properties, a defined sampling methodology for non-public areas, and standardized service-performance measurement using a TRAI-designated testing application. It adopts a technology-neutral approach (fibre or wireless backhaul), permits centralized monitoring beyond conventional BMS, adds an optional Digital Connectivity Audit, allows greater power-infrastructure flexibility while maintaining reliability, and aligns criteria with NBCS 2026. It is in force immediately, superseding the prior 2025 Manual's methodology.
Implications
- — Digital Connectivity Rating Agencies must adopt the amended Manual's multi-stage assessment and certification framework for under-construction properties and its defined non-public-area sampling methodology when issuing ratings, or certifications will not conform to TRAI's assessment requirements.
- — Property managers seeking or maintaining connectivity ratings must ensure assessments use the TRAI-designated testing application for service-performance measurement and meet the amended Manual's criteria, since assessments using prior methods will no longer conform.
- — Service providers supporting rated properties must provision backhaul and monitoring consistent with the Manual's technology-neutral and expanded monitoring definitions (fibre or wireless backhaul; centralized monitoring beyond conventional BMS), or the infrastructure will fail the amended assessment standard.
Who is affected
- — Digital Connectivity Rating Agencies (DCRAs)
- — Property managers seeking in-building connectivity ratings
- — Telecom service providers supporting rated properties
- — Under-construction property developers and certification teams