India's telecom regulator publishes draft AI guidelines for networks and services

TRAI's Press Release No. 145/2026, dated New Delhi, 30 October 2026, says the authority has released a draft of the Guidelines on Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Telecommunication Networks and Provision of Telecommunication Services for comment. The draft document is dated 30 October 2026. Both the release and the draft invite written comments by 27 November 2026. Neither states a time of day. The release says the draft is meant to apply the India AI Governance Guidelines, which it says the government released in February 2026, in the telecom sector. The text is a draft. It is not in force.

The draft would apply to an entity that holds a licence under the Telegraph Act, 1885, or an authorisation under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, for telecom services or for establishing, operating, maintaining or expanding telecom networks, and that is using or intending to use an AI system in those networks or services. Such an entity would have to adopt an internal AI policy, approved by its board or an equivalent body, and file that policy with TRAI within seven working days of it taking effect. The policy would have to classify each AI system as high-risk, medium-risk or low-risk, and each AI incident as critical-severity, high-severity, moderate-severity or low-severity. Critical-severity and high-severity incidents would have to be reported to TRAI. The draft also calls for an inventory of AI systems, human oversight, and an AI Governance and Safety Committee headed by a senior executive. It says the entity is accountable for the outcome of AI systems it uses, whether they are built internally or procured from a third party. It names TEC standard 57050:2023 as an example that may be used for a fairness assessment, and TEC standard 57090:2025, or an equivalent taxonomy, for recording AI incidents.

What it means for business: nothing in this draft applies yet. Firms that run licensed or authorised telecom networks or services in India, and that use or plan to use AI in them, are the ones the draft would cover. Comments are due on 27 November 2026. This describes the draft. It is not advice on a particular system.