TRAI proposes overhaul of tariff and accounting guidelines for telecom operators

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Draft guidelines present graded monetary disincentives, modified charge ceilings, and interest on postponed payments

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India( TRAI )on Thursday launched draft modifications to the Telecommunication Tariff Order, 1999 and the Reporting System on Accounting Separation Regulations, 2016, focused on reinforcing compliance and guaranteeing openness in the telecom sector.

The function of the Regulation is to make sure that telecom provider report to TRAI on a constant and precise basis.

The draft notices consist of the Telecommunication Tariff (Seventy Second Amendment) Order, 2025 and the Reporting System on Accounting Separation (Amendment) Regulations, 2025.

TRAI stated the proposed modifications present arrangements for enforcing monetary disincentives in a graded way to guarantee regulative compliance. The changes likewise propose modifying the ceiling quantity of such disincentives and presenting interest charges for postponed or non-payment of charges.

“The proposed amendments contain provisions for imposing the financial disincentives (i) in a graded manner to ensure compliance with regulatory provisions; (ii) revision in amount of financial disincentive prescribing a ceiling on the total financial disincentive amount; (iii) imposition of interest on delayed/non-payments of financial disincentives,” states TRAI declaration.

The proposed change states that TRAI will not release any monetary disincentive without providing sensible chance of representation to the provider. “No order for payment of any amount by way of financial disincentive under this regulation shall be made by the Authority, unless the service provider has been given a reasonable opportunity of representing against the contravention of the regulations observed by the Authority,” kept in mind the draft change.

The proposition likewise recommends that TRAI reserves the right of not enforcing any charge or monetary disincentive under this policy “The Authority reserves the right not to enforce any monetary disincentive, or to enforce a lower quantity of monetary disincentive than the quantity payable under the arrangements of this guideline, where it discovers benefit in the factors provided by the company or in the interest of regulative compliance,” the proposition recommends. The draft changes have actually been published on TRAI’s site www.trai.gov.in for public assessment and stakeholders actions. Stakeholders have actually been welcomed to send their composed remarks by October 31, 2025, to, TRAI, through e-mail at fa@trai.gov.in.

Released on October 16, 2025