5 apply for DCRA empanelment as TRAI preps for digital connectivity rating system for buildings, properties

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has received applications from five entities expressing interest in being empanelled as digital connectivity rating agencies (DCRAs) who will evaluate properties according to the regulator's prescribed rules and norms, according to Chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti. TRAI is hoping for an early launch of the entire system, with Lahoti noting that the first round of empanelment could take place as soon as this month. Some projects and properties have already started making enquiries about the rating system, he told PTI. The proposed 'star rating' system will evaluate properties on digital connectivity, similar to green building or energy efficiency rating systems.
New as well as existing buildings can be rated under the proposed system, and TRAI hopes that framework may even nudge builders to "retrofit" existing buildings with good digital connectivity infrastructure to get a favourable rating.
To support this, TRAI is developing a digital platform and final property assessments will also be published on the regulator's website. Over time, TRAI expects the digital connectivity rating system to become a standard and key selling point for developers, builders on the one hand, and buyers or tenants on the other, given connectivity demands at workplace and homes. At present, dense construction in urban areas also makes connectivity a challenge in many locations. "We have already issued the regulation for the rating framework. We have also initiated the process of empanelling agencies who can do the rating and the call for application is on. We have received applications from five agencies who have shown interest in getting empanelled as DCRAs. "We have also issued a draft manual on the rating system so that there is a uniform, standard, transparent process for the rating, which is known across all the rating agencies and property managers who are seeking the rating. After that, it is for any property manager to approach a rating agencies and get the rating," Lahoti said.
Last month, TRAI released the draft manual for assessment of rating of properties for digital connectivity under the Rating of Properties for Digital Connectivity Regulations, 2024. According to TRAI, the rating manual will enable adoption of uniform assessment methodology by the Digital Connectivity Rating Agencies for rating of properties. It will also provide a standard reference for the property managers for creation of digital connectivity infrastructure (DCI) in their properties. Buildings shall be evaluated based on defined parameters in the regulation -- fiber readiness, mobile network availability, in-building solutions, and wi-fi infrastructure, service performance among others. The regulator had also submitted its recommendations to the government on 'Rating of Buildings or Areas for Digital Connectivity' in February 2023, with an aim to create an ecosystem for building of DCI as a part of any development activity. TRAI has also released the regulation Rating of Properties for Digital Connectivity Regulations, 2024 in October last year to bring a framework for rating of properties for digital connectivity. The idea is to promote creation of good digital connectivity through a collaborative and self-sustainable approach. "The two things -- regulations and policy framework are not contingent upon each other, they are complementary. The regulation is already in force, and the rating of properties can start. The policy framework enabling provisions in the national building code and in the model building bylaws, can process concurrently," he said. Industry estimates show that more than 80 per cent of the data consumption takes place inside building premises, Lahoti said, emphasising that robust and reliable digital connectivity inside buildings is essential to meet connectivity requirement and consumer expectations. "This is very important as far as the telecom quality is concerned. The provision of in-building solution inside the building premises will complement the network being provided outside by the telecom service providers," Lahoti said. Digital connectivity has also become crucial, especially for 5G and, in future, the 6G networks, which use high frequency bands for delivering ultra hi-speed data, but get attenuated due to walls and building materials. "Today, when anybody buys or rents a flat, or maybe rents office premises, and the moment they occupy it, the first problem that they may encounter is connectivity. Imagine buying or renting an expensive flat, and when you move in, you find that your mobile (connectivity) is not working, or you don't have internet connectivity in the rooms... "In today's world, when your entire social, professional, economic life needs digital connectivity, this becomes a serious constraint, and the person starts looking for solution... But the good thing is that all this is solvable by providing engineered solutions inside the buildings," he told PTI. Emphasising that it is important that property developers now start working on these lines, Lahoti said, "In order to nudge the property developers or the project proponents to provide good digital connectivity inside built premises, and to keep a prospective buyer or tenant informed about the quality that he or she is going to get, we have come out with regulation." There is no limit on the number of DCRAs who can be empanelled so long as agencies qualify the stipulated norms, Lahoti said. "The rating itself will be in form of star rating. So a property meeting all the norms and in the highest range will get a five-star rating... the property with poor digital connectivity may get one star. This is very similar to our green building rating system as well as the energy efficiency rating of appliances where star ratings are available, and you can make out by way of rating how where the appliance or the property stand," he said. TRAI is keen to roll out the entire system "fast".
"If we get the right initiatives from various project proponents, in this regard, in a matter of few years, people will become aware about this, and more and more properties will look to get this rating," the TRAI chief added. PTI

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Economic Times

20 minutes ago

• Economic Times

Zen Diamond looks to open 100 stores in India in 5 years

Diamond jewellery brand Zen Diamond plans to open 100 stores across India by 2030, especially in quality malls, a senior company executive has company has two stores in Mumbai, and has signed up for three more, two in the south and one in the north, taking the total to five by the end of this calendar year., according to the official. "We are looking at retail expansion in India. We are planning to have 100 stores across India in the next five years, initially in the major metros, followed by tier II cities," Zen Diamond India Managing Director Neil Sonawala told PTI. He said the stores will be located in quality malls, which already attract consumers and already have the presence of international brands. For its India presence, the company has already invested Rs 100 crore, funded through internal accruals, he said. "We plan to expand, at least up to 10-15 stores, through internal accrual. Post that, for 100 stores in India in the next five years, we will tap different channels for funding. Maybe it could also be a franchise or we could also have some other alternate funding arrangements. It's a bit premature to talk about that at this stage," he added. Currently, Zen Diamond has over 450 stores across 20 countries. Sonawala further said that Zen Diamond is launching an e-commerce platform and has also collaborated with Pernia's pop-up. "We are launching an e-commerce platform. So, we will also have a shop-in-shop in 4-5 Bernier outlets by the end of the year," he added. When asked about the jewellery designs, Sonawala said, the Zen Diamond stores in India will have 75-80 per cent of selected international designs. "But, of course, in India we also need to blend with the local culture and the local taste and preferences. So, 20 per cent of designs are also created in India and which are more on the Indo-Western line. We are on the modern, trendy, international side of designs, ranging from Rs 20,000 and going all the way up to Rs 15 lakh. Our focus is everyday wear, evening wear and gifting," he added. For this purpose, the company has set up a manufacturing unit in Mumbai with a capacity of producing 5 lakh jewellery pieces annually," he said. "We have a manufacturing unit in Mumbai. So, everything is made in India in our facilities. We have a capacity of close to 35,000-40,000 pieces a month. So, almost 500,000 pieces a year," he added. PTI

Mint

23 minutes ago

• Mint

Israel-Iran conflict effect? India ramps up crude oil imports from Russia, US in June 2025

India has increased its crude oil purchases from Russia and the United States in June 2025, as the import volumes from the two nations exceed the combined volumes from Middle Eastern suppliers amid the market volatility due to the Israel-Iran conflict, reported the news agency PTI. India's primary suppliers for crude oil in the Middle East are nations like Saudi Arabia and Iraq. This comes amid US President Donald Trump's announcement that America had carried out coordinated airstrikes targeting three nuclear facilities in Iran. Indian refiners are expected to import 2 million to 2.2 million barrels of crude oil per day in June 2025, marking the highest level of russian oil imports in the last two years, according to the agency report citing Kpler data. The crude oil imports from Russia were at 1.96 million barrels per day in May 2025. This expected hike in volumes is also set to beat the total volumes bought from Gulf nations like Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait, as per the report. On the crude imports on the US front, Indian refiners' crude oil imports from the United States' also jumped to 4,39,000 barrels per day in June 2025, compared to their 2,80,000 barrels per day levels in the previous month. The data report also showed how the full-month projects from crude oil imports from the Middle East into India stood at 2 million barrels per day, lower than the May 2025 levels, according to the agency report. India started importing cheaper oil from Russia soon after the Russia-Ukraine war in February 2022 due to the higher discounted rates post the economic sanctions from the United States. India buys nearly 5.1 million barrels of crude oil, which is then refined to be converted into fossil fuels like petrol and diesel However, so far in the Israel-Iran conflict, there have been no crude oil supply cuts or disruptions in the oil trade, which can potentially drive up oil prices around the world. 'While supplies remain unaffected so far, vessel activity suggests a decline in crude loadings from the Middle East in the coming days,' Sumit Ritolia, Lead Research Analyst, Refining & Modeling at Kpler, told the news agency. 'Shipowners are hesitant to send empty tankers (ballasters) into the Gulf, with the number of such vessels dropping from 69 to just 40, and (Middle East and Gulf) MEG-bound signals from the Gulf of Oman halving,' he said. The global situation of uncertainty caused by the raging Israel-Iran war now risks Tehran retaliating by closing the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait of Hormuz is a strategically important trade passage for global crude oil as the strait links the Gulf of Oman, the Arabian Sea, and the Persian Gulf. According to multiple media reports, the Strait of Hormuz handles nearly a quarter of the world's oil trade. Hence, any potential move to close the passage will result in the escalation of the already raging war. Experts cited in media reports indicate that if there is an oil supply disruption, crude prices can jump to $400 per barrel. 'Yet, Kpler analysis assigns a very low probability to a full blockade, citing strong disincentives for Iran,' Ritolia told the news agency. The route serves as a major route for world oil and LNG export transit, and agency reports show that India imports nearly 40 per cent of all its crude oil and nearly 50 per cent of its gas imports from the Strait of Hormuz, which links to many Gulf nations. The Kpler data cited in the agency report also estimates that in case any disruption happens, it will result in 24 to 48 hours of isolation before major nations like the US step in to counter the retaliation. Meanwhile, the agency also highlighted that Russian oil imports are detached from Hormuz and are imported via the Suez Canal, Cape of Good Hope, or the Pacific Ocean. 'If conflict deepens or there is any short-term disruption in Hormuz, Russian barrels will rise in share, offering both physical availability and pricing relief. India may pivot harder toward the US, Nigeria, Angola, and Brazil, albeit at higher freight costs,' said the expert cited in the agency report. As of 19 June 2025, Russian crude oil accounted for 35 per cent of India's total crude imports. The Indian refiners are watching the geopolitical landscape and are likely to adjust procurement strategies to prioritise energy security, supply stability, and commercial viability if risks in the Middle East escalate, according to the agency report.

Business Standard

an hour ago

• Business Standard

Blocking of Strait of Hormuz may impact India's energy procurement: Experts

Any blocking or disruption of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz -- a narrow passage connecting the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea -- will have significant global and regional impact, including for India's energy security, strategic affairs experts said on Sunday. Following the US bombing of three major Iranian nuclear sites, Tehran has indicated that closing the Strait of Hormuz for shipping is one of the options on the table to pressure its adversaries. Nearly 30 percent of global oil and a third of the world's LNG (liquefied natural gas) passes through the strait daily and its closure would immediately reduce global supplies triggering a spike in prices, they said. The closure of the narrow passage would have significant global repercussions across energy markets and it will impact India's energy security as well, Dr Laxman Kumar Behera, Associate Professor at Special Centre for National Security Studies at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, told PTI. Behera said any disruption in the critical shipping lane will majorly impact India's crude oil import from Iraq and to an extent from Saudi Arabia. Captain D K Sharma (retd), a former Indian Navy spokesperson who closely follows developments in the Gulf region, said Iran's threat to block the Strait of Hormuz could lead to significant disruptions in global oil trade. Any disruption in shipping traffic could impact insurance premiums, causing costlier rerouting of oil shipments, he argued. "Oil prices are expected to surge due to the increased tensions in the region, with some analysts predicting prices to reach USD 80-USD 90 per barrel or even USD 100 per barrel if Iran responds with retaliatory measures," he noted. Sharma also said that the currencies of the countries in the region may experience significant volatility, and investors may look for other stable markets. According to a recent analysis by the International Energy Agency, even a brief disruption of passage through the Strait of Hormuz will have a significant impact on oil markets. "With geopolitical and economic uncertainties affecting oil producers and consumers alike, oil supply security remains high on the international energy policy agenda," it said. The US on Sunday morning bombed three major nuclear sites -- Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan -- in Iran, bringing itself into the Israel-Iran conflict Later, President Donald Trump said the Iranian nuclear sites were "totally obliterated". Behera said Iran will also face economic consequences if it shuts down the Hormuz strait as such a move will severely cripple Tehran's exports. Since the start of Iran's hostilities with Israel, Iranian officials have spoken about the possibility of shutting the Strait of Hormuz. Mohammad Javad Hosseini, the deputy chief of mission at the Iranian embassy, on Friday said closing the Strait of Hormuz is an option. "We have many things on the table, but it doesn't mean that we are going to do it now. It depends on the situation and how the other players want to go. If they want to solve the problem, definitely some of these things will be put aside," he said.