The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has proposed new accountability rules for AI telecom networks, including board-approved policies, dedicated governance and safety committees, and mandatory reporting of serious AI-related incidents to the regulator.
The draft framework, released for stakeholder consultation, is titled the “Guidelines on Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Telecommunication Networks and Provision of Telecommunication Services”. TRAI said the guidelines are intended to establish a responsible-use framework for artificial intelligence across telecom networks and services.
Under the proposal, telecom service providers would be required to adopt AI policies approved by their boards. The framework would also require entities to create dedicated governance and safety committees to oversee the development and deployment of AI systems.
The proposed requirements place responsibility on telecom entities for the outcomes of AI systems used in their networks and services. This accountability would apply whether an AI system is developed internally, procured or outsourced from a third party, or created through a combination of these arrangements.
The approach addresses a central governance issue in the use of AI in telecom: responsibility would remain with the service provider even when the underlying technology is supplied by an external vendor. That could require operators to exercise greater oversight over systems integrated into network operations and the provision of telecommunications services.
The framework also proposes reporting serious AI-related incidents to TRAI. The draft does not, in the supplied announcement, specify the complete classification of incidents, reporting timelines or enforcement process. Those details are expected to be examined as stakeholders respond to the consultation.
TRAI’s proposal comes as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly relevant to the operation and management of telecommunications services. Telecom networks form the backbone of digital connectivity for households, businesses and public institutions, making decisions about automated systems an infrastructure-governance issue rather than only a technology procurement question.
The proposed committees and board-level policies would place AI oversight within the formal institutional structures of telecom entities. This would move responsibility beyond individual technology teams and create a defined governance layer for assessing how AI systems are deployed and how risks are managed.
The proposal also highlights the difficulty of assigning accountability across complex technology supply chains. Telecom providers may rely on systems developed by vendors or outsourced service partners, but TRAI’s draft position is that outsourcing or third-party procurement would not remove the provider’s responsibility for outcomes.
The regulator has invited stakeholders to participate in the consultation process. The final framework, including any changes made after stakeholder feedback and the eventual implementation requirements, will determine how the proposed governance and incident-reporting obligations apply across the telecom sector.
