India's telecom regulator proposes AI governance rules for operators

A report dated 3 November 2026 describes draft guidelines released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on 30 October 2026 for the responsible use of artificial intelligence in telecommunications networks and services. The proposal would set governance and accountability expectations for operators that deploy AI, and stakeholders may send comments until 27 November 2026.

The report says the Ministry of Communications points out that telecom networks underpin essential public services, economic activity, vital information infrastructure, national security and emergency services. As AI spreads through network operations and service delivery, the regulator sees a need for sector-specific guidance. The initiative adapts India's wider AI Governance Guidelines, issued in February 2026, to the risks peculiar to telecom infrastructure. The draft would cover authorised entities that provide telecom services or run networks and that use, or plan to use, AI systems.

Under the proposal, operators would draw up internal AI governance policies, sort their AI systems by potential risk, and put human oversight in place. Validation, conformity and impact assessments would be needed before any AI system is deployed or modified. Operators would also have to record, investigate and mitigate AI-related incidents, and tell TRAI about critical and high-severity ones. Further obligations include setting up an AI Governance and Safety Committee, data governance safeguards, and channels for consumer complaints about AI. Operators would stay answerable for outcomes even where the systems come from third parties.

The report adds that AI can improve efficiency and service quality but also introduces risks to reliability, cybersecurity and continuity of service. It says the consultation will shape how the safeguards are put into practice and how operators balance innovation with security, resilience and consumer protection.