New Delhi: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has proposed a risk-based framework for artificial intelligence in telecom, under which operators would have to classify their AI systems by risk, adopt board-approved internal AI policies and report serious AI-related incidents to the regulator. The draft Guidelines on Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in Telecommunication Networks and Provision of Telecommunication Services were released on October 30 for public consultation, The420 reported.

Source: The420

The sharpest provision is on accountability: the draft states that an authorised entity will remain accountable for the outcomes of all AI systems it uses, irrespective of whether they were developed internally, procured from a third party or jointly developed — so an operator cannot shift regulatory responsibility to its vendor, BTW Media's reading of the draft noted.

Source: BTW Media

Under the proposal, every AI system would be sorted into high, medium or low risk, no system could be deployed without sign-off from a designated officer, and operators would maintain an inventory of their AI systems, carry out pre-deployment assessments and keep a central record of AI incidents, with high- and critical-severity incidents reported to TRAI, Urban Acres reported.

Source: Urban Acres

The draft also proposes an AI Governance and Safety Committee in each operator, headed by a senior executive designated as the AI Governance and Safety Officer. It does not introduce a separate penalty schedule, and it remains a consultation proposal rather than a final rule: the framework seeks to apply the broader India AI Governance Guidelines to telecom networks, where AI is already used for network management, maintenance and customer service.

Source: The420

Stakeholders can send written comments until November 27, 2026. The final framework will show whether the operator-accountability clause and the incident-reporting duties survive consultation in their current form.

Source: BTW Media