Trai proposes new 5G rules to protect network quality

The proposed framework seeks greater oversight of 5G network slicing through advance disclosures, capacity limits, service-specific quality benchmarks and consumer safeguards as operators expand commercial offerings.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has proposed a new regulatory framework to bring 5G network slicing under its Quality of Service (QoS) regime, as telecom operators begin exploring commercial deployments of the technology in India.

Network slicing enables operators to divide a physical 5G network into multiple virtual networks, allowing different services to receive dedicated resources and performance parameters. TRAI has released draft amendments for stakeholder consultation and has invited comments until August 26, 2026.

The proposed rules are aimed at ensuring that the introduction of differentiated 5G services does not compromise network performance or affect the quality experienced by other users.

Operators to provide advance details

Under the draft framework, telecom service providers would be required to notify TRAI at least 21 days before introducing a new 5G network slice. The advance submission would have to contain information on both the parameters already associated with the network and those proposed for the new slice.

Where an operator provides multiple slices, each offering would be treated separately for tariff and QoS monitoring purposes. This would allow the regulator to assess the performance of individual services rather than evaluating multiple network slices as a single offering.

TRAI has also proposed safeguards around network capacity. Radio resource utilisation during peak periods would be capped at 80%, while the proportion of cells exceeding that threshold would be restricted to no more than 1% within a licensed service area.

The regulator said such measures are important because network slicing dynamically allocates network resources. Without adequate controls, heavy demand from one service could potentially affect the performance of other services operating on the same infrastructure.

Speed disclosure and consumer safeguards

The proposed amendments would also allow operators to offer separate tariffs for 4G, 5G and other mobile services, with each plan required to clearly disclose measurable download and upload speeds.

A service would be considered non-compliant if its measured download speed falls below 80% of the speed advertised to customers. Operators would also have to inform affected subscribers when committed speeds are not delivered and take corrective measures before submitting their subsequent compliance report.

TRAI has proposed financial penalties for violations. Incorrect QoS reporting could attract a penalty of ₹2 lakh per benchmark, while each instance of non-compliance could result in a ₹5 lakh penalty. Repeated violations may attract penalties of up to ₹10 lakh for every benchmark.

Consumer protection measures have also been proposed. If a network outage continues for more than 24 hours, postpaid customers could receive rent rebates, while prepaid users could be offered extensions to their service validity.

TRAI said its proposed approach draws from practices followed in jurisdictions including the European Union, the UK, France and the US, where network slicing is allowed alongside safeguards for public internet quality.

The consultation will remain open until August 26, following which TRAI will evaluate stakeholder feedback before finalising the revised QoS regulations.