On 30 October 2026, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released draft guidelines titled ‘Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Telecommunication Networks and Provision of Telecommunication Services’. The proposal would make telecom service providers (TSPs) accountable for AI-related incidents and system outcomes, whether models are developed in-house or obtained from third-party vendors.
Proposed governance and risk controls
TSPs and other authorised entities using AI would need board-approved AI policies and dedicated AI governance and safety committees. They would classify AI systems as high, medium or low risk, considering their importance to network operations, financial and operational outcomes, and possible effects on consumers.
Critical and high-severity AI incidents would have to be reported to TRAI in a prescribed format and within a prescribed timeframe. Operators would also maintain central databases of AI incidents and consumer complaints. The draft addresses risks including cybersecurity threats, algorithmic bias and system failures in telecom networks.
Alignment and consultation
The proposal aligns with the government’s India AI Governance Guidelines, released in February 2026. Those guidelines set out seven guiding principles, or “sutras”: trust, people first, innovation, fairness, accountability, understandability and safety. Stakeholders may submit written comments on the draft to TRAI by 27 November 2026.
Important Facts for Exams
- Network planes: Telecommunications networks separate data, control and management planes, carrying user payload, signalling, and operations and administration traffic respectively.
- Governance scope: AI governance can be assessed by who is accountable, what is governed, when oversight occurs in development, and how it is implemented.
