The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released a new draft amendment, the “Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services Interconnection (Addressable Systems) (Seventh Amendment) Regulations, 2025,” aiming to overhaul the audit and compliance framework for broadcasters and distribution platform operators (DPOs). The proposed changes, published on Monday, September 22, are designed to enhance transparency and efficiency within the Digital Addressable System (DAS) ecosystem.
According to an official TRAI press release, the draft regulations are the result of an extensive consultation process that commenced on August 9, 2024. The authority has framed the new rules based on feedback from key industry stakeholders and its own internal review, and is now inviting further comments from all affected parties. The full text of the draft is available on TRAI’s website, with the deadline for written submissions set for October 6, 2025.
A key proposal in the draft is the mandate for DPOs to conduct a system audit once every year. This annual audit will cover their entire addressable system infrastructure, including the subscriber management system (SMS), conditional access system (CAS), digital rights management (DRM), and other related systems, for the preceding financial year. DPOs will be required to share the comprehensive audit report with all broadcasters with whom they have interconnection agreements by September 30 each year.
The proposed amendments also clarify a number of other critical provisions. They introduce new financial penalties for audit defaults, update the criteria for auditor empanelment, and provide clearer rules for data segregation in cases of infrastructure sharing. The accompanying DAS Audit Manual and related schedules are also set to be updated to reflect these changes.
TRAI has proposed that these new regulations will come into effect from April 1, 2026. This strategic transition window is intended to provide broadcasters and DPOs with ample time to align their systems and processes with the new compliance norms. The explanatory memorandum accompanying the draft highlights that these changes were prompted by issues raised by industry participants and new infrastructure-sharing guidelines from the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting.
In a move to balance strict regulatory oversight with industry needs, the draft also considers a differential treatment for smaller DPOs. TRAI aims to reduce the compliance burden on operators below a specific subscriber threshold while simultaneously strengthening audit rigor and transparency for larger distributors. The industry, including key bodies, broadcasters, and DPOs, is expected to submit detailed comments during the consultation period.
Key Highlights:
- TRAI Proposes New Audit Rules: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued a draft amendment to the DAS Interconnection Regulations, 2017, proposing mandatory annual audits for all distribution platform operators (DPOs).
- Key Changes Introduced: The draft requires DPOs to audit their addressable systems annually and share the reports with broadcasters by September 30 each year. It also revises financial penalties and clarifies rules for infrastructure sharing and data segregation.
- Effective Date & Transition Period: The new regulations are proposed to take effect from April 1, 2026, providing a transition period for stakeholders to prepare for the updated compliance requirements.
- Focus on Transparency & Efficiency: The amendments aim to enhance transparency and audit rigor in the broadcasting sector while also considering a reduced compliance burden for smaller DPOs to ensure ease of business.