The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has launched a Digital Connectivity Rating platform that will allow consumers to check how well residential and commercial properties perform on mobile and internet connectivity before buying or leasing them.
The new platform brings TRAI’s property-rating framework into public use, with buildings assessed on factors such as indoor mobile coverage, fibre readiness, in-building connectivity systems and Wi-Fi infrastructure. Ratings and relevant property details will be made visible to consumers through the platform.
The move reflects a growing concern that poor indoor network quality can remain hidden until a person moves into a home or office.
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Buildings will be rated on more than mobile signal
The framework is designed to assess the overall digital-readiness of a property rather than simply measuring whether a phone shows a few signal bars.
TRAI says properties can be evaluated on parameters including fibre infrastructure, availability of mobile networks, in-building solutions and Wi-Fi facilities.
The objective is to create a standardised rating system so that connectivity at different properties can be compared using the same methodology.
This could be particularly useful in large apartment complexes, office towers, malls, hospitals and other buildings where thick walls, basement areas and poor internal network design can affect connectivity even when outdoor coverage is strong.
TRAI Chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti said around 70% to 80% of mobile data consumption takes place indoors, making building-level connectivity increasingly important for consumers.
Buyers could check connectivity before purchasing a home
The most direct impact will be on property buyers and tenants.
A person considering an apartment could potentially check its digital-connectivity rating before making a purchase or signing a lease, in much the same way buyers currently compare location, parking, power backup or other building facilities.
TRAI’s amended 2026 regulations say the dedicated platform is intended to improve transparency by making ratings accessible along with information such as the property’s city and location.
That could reduce a common problem in real estate: connectivity being treated as an afterthought.
A building may be in a major city and still have poor mobile reception inside lifts, parking areas or particular rooms.
The rating system is intended to make such infrastructure more visible before a transaction takes place.
Mobile app will support on-site connectivity testing
The new system also includes a mobile application for testing digital connectivity at properties.
According to reports on the launch, the platform is designed to handle the rating process from end to end, including property applications, assessments and publication of results.
Ratings will be carried out through registered Digital Connectivity Rating Agencies, or DCRAs.
Property managers can apply for assessment, after which the building is evaluated using the methodology prescribed by TRAI.
The regulator has already issued a Rating Manual setting out how connectivity should be assessed under the framework. An amended manual was released in June 2026 following changes to the underlying regulations.
What Digital Connectivity Rating actually measures
The rating is not the same as an internet speed test.
A normal speed test measures the performance of a particular connection at a specific moment.
TRAI’s property framework instead looks at whether a building has the physical and network infrastructure needed to provide reliable digital connectivity over time.
That can include whether fibre has been properly planned inside the property, whether mobile signals are available throughout the building, whether dedicated in-building systems exist and how Wi-Fi infrastructure has been designed.
This makes the framework closer to an infrastructure rating than a simple broadband benchmark.
The regulator says the goal is to encourage property managers and developers to build digitally connected and future-ready properties.
Rating framework was first introduced in 2024
TRAI first notified the Rating of Properties for Digital Connectivity Regulations in October 2024.
It subsequently issued assessment manuals, registration procedures for rating agencies and property managers, and amendments to the framework.
The regulations were reviewed again in early 2026 after TRAI sought stakeholder comments on how the system could be improved.
That process resulted in amended regulations in May and an updated Rating Manual in June.
The September launch effectively gives consumers a public-facing way to use that regulatory framework.
Developers could face pressure to improve indoor networks
The rating system could also change how developers design new projects.
If connectivity ratings become visible during property searches, buildings with weak mobile or fibre infrastructure could become less attractive to buyers and commercial tenants.
That creates a market incentive for developers to include telecom infrastructure during construction instead of trying to retrofit it later.
TRAI has said greater transparency can improve accountability among property managers and encourage stronger digital infrastructure.
For telecom operators, the system may also provide better information about buildings where indoor coverage requires improvement.
The long-term impact will depend on how many properties voluntarily seek ratings and whether consumers begin using those ratings during purchase and leasing decisions.
What this means for you: If you are buying or renting a home or office, digital connectivity could now become a measurable property feature rather than something discovered after moving in. TRAI’s platform is designed to let consumers compare buildings on mobile coverage and digital infrastructure before committing.
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