The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) issued the Rating of Properties for Digital Connectivity (Amendment) Regulations, 2026 on 13 May 2026 after a consultation that began on 27 February 2026. It incorporated feedback from property managers, Digital Connectivity Rating Agencies (DCRAs), service providers and other stakeholders drawn from implementation experience and capacity building. The amendments and a revised Rating Manual are published on TRAI's website and take effect from 13 May 2026.

Key changes include additional half-star levels, expanding the scale from five to nine to allow finer differentiation and greater visibility of improvements in connectivity infrastructure and service performance. The changes are intended to help consumers compare properties more effectively and to recognise incremental enhancement in network readiness within buildings. The Code of Conduct for DCRAs has been strengthened to reinforce independence and to prevent agencies that provide digital connectivity infrastructure from assessing properties where they supplied infrastructure.

The amended rules allow under-construction properties to seek phased assessments so design commitments and implementation are evaluated separately. A DCRA will assess the design stage digital connectivity infrastructure from approved design documents and declarations and issue a Designed For evaluation report. After installation of in-building solutions, the DCRA will assess implementation and issue an Installation Completed For report, with a final rating awarded when services become operational.

The categorisation of property types has been refined to align assessment criteria with usage characteristics and to ensure appropriate methodologies. An optional digital connectivity audit will allow property managers of existing buildings to obtain sub-criterion-wise assessments of current infrastructure and identify areas for improvement without entering the formal rating process. References to the National Building Construction Standards, 2026 replace earlier references to the National Building Code, 2016. The Regulations apply to property managers seeking ratings or audits, Digital Connectivity Rating Agencies, in building solution providers and service providers integrating their networks with property infrastructure.