TRAI Releases Draft Guidelines on Responsible AI Use in Telecom
The draft asks telecom operators for board-approved AI policies and mandatory reporting of serious AI incidents.
Key Takeaways
- TRAI released draft guidelines on responsible use of AI in telecom on 30 October 2026.
- Operators would be accountable for AI outcomes, including AI sourced from third parties.
- The draft asks for board-approved AI policies and governance and safety committees.
- AI systems would be classed high, medium or low risk, and critical and high severity incidents reported to TRAI.
- Written comments are due by 27 November 2026.
Table of Contents 7 sections
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released draft guidelines on the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) in telecommunication networks and the provision of telecommunication services. TRAI published the draft on 30 October 2026 and invited stakeholders to send written comments by 27 November 2026.
The draft says telecom operators are accountable for the outcomes of the AI systems they use, whether the systems are built in-house or sourced from third parties. It asks for board-approved AI policies, governance and safety committees, a high, medium or low risk class for each AI system, and mandatory reporting of the most serious AI incidents to TRAI.
TRAI's draft AI guidelines at a glance
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Document | Draft Guidelines on Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Telecommunication Networks and Provision of Telecommunication Services |
| Issued by | Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) |
| Released on | 30 October 2026 |
| Status | Draft, open for stakeholder comments |
| Comments due | 27 November 2026 |
| Who it covers | Entities with a licence under the Telegraph Act or an authorisation under the Telecommunications Act |
| Accountability | The operator is accountable for AI outcomes, including AI sourced from third parties |
| Risk classes for AI systems | High, medium and low |
| Incident severity levels | Critical, high, moderate and low |
| Incidents reported to TRAI | Critical and high severity |
What the draft asks telecom operators to put in place
Each operator would need an AI policy approved by its board. The policy would cover risk classification, approval before deployment, incident handling, human oversight, data governance and the handling of consumer complaints about AI-related harm.
Operators would also set up a governance and safety committee to supervise how AI is deployed. AI systems would be classed as high, medium or low risk, and incidents would be graded as critical, high, moderate or low in severity. Critical and high severity incidents would have to be reported to TRAI in a prescribed format and timeframe. Operators would keep a central database of consumer complaints involving AI-related harm.
How the draft builds on the India AI Governance Guidelines
TRAI said the Government of India released the India AI Governance Guidelines in February 2026. They rest on seven principles, called sutras: Trust is the Foundation, People First, Innovation over Restraint, Fairness and Equity, Accountability, Understandable by Design, and Safety, Resilience and Sustainability. Part 4 of those guidelines gives practical guidance to industry and regulators.
TRAI said the telecom sector is a significant part of India's digital infrastructure. It supports public connectivity, essential e-services, trade and commerce, and the working of critical information infrastructure, and it matters for national security and emergency response.
| When | What happened |
|---|---|
| February 2026 | The Government of India releases the India AI Governance Guidelines |
| 30 October 2026 | TRAI releases the draft telecom AI guidelines for stakeholder comments |
| 27 November 2026 | Last date for written comments |
How stakeholders can send comments to TRAI
TRAI said written comments should preferably be sent in electronic form to Shri Akhilesh Kumar Trivedi, Advisor (Networks, Spectrum and Licensing), TRAI.
What TRAI has said about the next step
TRAI said it decided to frame the guidelines, and that the draft is placed on its website, www.trai.gov.in, for inputs.
Where the telecom AI guidelines stand now
The guidelines are a draft and are open to comments until 27 November 2026. TRAI said its aim is to ensure consistent and responsible implementation of the India AI Governance Guidelines in the telecom sector, and to increase clarity, predictability and accountability.
More news
Frequently Asked Questions
What is TRAI's draft AI guideline for telecom?
When did TRAI release the draft AI guidelines?
How long do stakeholders have to send comments to TRAI?
How should comments on the TRAI draft be sent?
Who would the TRAI draft AI guidelines cover?
Are telecom operators accountable for third-party AI under the TRAI draft?
How would AI systems be classified under the TRAI draft?
What kind of AI policy does the TRAI draft ask for?
How does the TRAI draft grade AI incidents?
Which AI incidents must be reported to TRAI under the draft?
What does the TRAI draft say about governance committees?
How does the TRAI draft relate to the India AI Governance Guidelines?
More in AI
Protectt.ai Takes Majority Stake in Bosch-Incubated AIShield
Protectt.ai has become the majority shareholder of the AI security platform AIShield.
Sarvam Signs MoU With HQ IDS for AI Projects Across Armed Forces
Sarvam has signed an MoU with HQ IDS for AI projects across the Army, Navy and Air Force.