The Central Government has notified the Telecommunications (Regulatory Sandbox) Rules, 2026, allowing eligible startups, companies, researchers and individuals to test innovative telecom technologies, services and business models in a controlled regulatory environment, according to a Gazette notification reported by ANI.

Source: ANI via The Hindu BusinessLine

Under the rules, the Central Government can establish a regulatory sandbox on its own initiative, or approve a proposal submitted by an applicant — either on the applicant's own initiative or in response to a government request for proposals — the notification said, as quoted by ANI.

Exemptions, but not a free pass

A sandbox can carry exemptions from certain provisions of the Telecommunications Act, 2023 and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) Act, 1997, to facilitate testing under specified conditions, Livemint reported. The exemptions are not automatic: applicants must specify exactly which exemptions they need, and the government assesses each proposal before accepting or rejecting it.

Source: Livemint

A regulatory sandbox can initially operate for up to 24 months. The government may extend its validity by up to 12 months at a time, and an extension request must be filed at least 30 days before the existing validity expires. Applicants pay a non-refundable processing fee of Rs 10,000, ANI reported.

24 monthsInitial maximum life of a telecom regulatory sandbox
12 monthsExtension allowed at a time, on request filed 30+ days ahead
Rs 10,000Non-refundable processing fee per application

Applications must be filed through the designated government portal, along with reports of previous testing in laboratories or controlled networks and the required documents, ANI reported via NewKerala. Approved applicants must obtain prior consent from users taking part in trials and inform them of the purpose and scope of the testing, and users cannot be charged for participating.

Source: ANI via NewKerala

Why it matters

The sandbox gives Indian telecom innovators a legal way to trial a new service on real networks without first clearing every licensing step of a full commercial launch — while keeping trials time-bound, consent-based and under the regulator's watch.

Sources: ANI via The Hindu BusinessLine (updated October 22, 2026), Livemint, and ANI via NewKerala — all reporting the same Gazette notification of the Telecommunications (Regulatory Sandbox) Rules, 2026.