Telecom regulator TRAI releases draft guidelines requiring board-approved AI policies and incident reporting by telecom operators

Key facts

• The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on October 30, 2026 released draft 'Guidelines on Responsible Use of AI in Telecommunication Networks and Provision of Telecommunication Services' for stakeholder comments, requiring service providers to adopt board-approved AI policies, set up governance and safety committees, and report serious AI-related incidents to the regulator.
• Under the draft framework, entities must classify AI systems into high-, medium- and low-risk categories based on significance to network operations, financial and operational outcomes and implications for consumers.
• Each entity must frame an internal AI policy approved by its board of directors, covering risk classification, deployment approvals, incident management, human oversight, data governance and consumer grievance redressal, with all AI systems subject to predefined human oversight.
• AI-related incidents will be classified into critical, high, moderate and low severity, with critical and high-severity incidents mandatorily reported to TRAI in a prescribed format, manner and timeframe.
• Telecom companies must maintain central databases of AI incidents and consumer complaints involving AI-related harm, with mechanisms for investigation, mitigation and resolution.
• TRAI said entities will be accountable for the outcomes of AI systems deployed in their networks and services irrespective of whether the AI is developed internally, procured or outsourced, and the guidelines aim to ensure consistent implementation of the India AI Governance Guidelines in the telecom sector.