TRAI issues the Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services Digital Addressable Systems Audit Manual, 2026
TRAI issues the Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services Digital Addressable Systems Audit Manual, 2026
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has today issued the Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services Digital Addressable Systems Audit Manual, 2026.
During various interactions with the Authority, the stakeholders had highlighted the need for:
i. improving audit related provisions in the Interconnection Regulations 2017 (as amended) and the audit manual,
ii. reducing repetitive audits of DPOs, resulting in resource wastage, operational disruption, and diminished stakeholders’ confidence in the audit process,
iii. incorporating provisions related to infrastructure sharing in the audit framework, and
iv. enhancing the accountability of auditors and categorising auditors based on their experience to ensure credibility of auditors.
To enhance accountability and credibility of audit process, technical proficiency requirements, categorisation of auditors based on their experience and enhanced accountability provisions have been incorporated into the Expression of Interest (EOI) document issued by TRAI on 26th August 2025 for empanelment of auditors.
Further, to address the issues related to audit framework, TRAI had issued a consultation paper on ‘Audit related provisions of Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services Interconnection (Addressable Systems) Regulations, 2017 and the Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services Digital Addressable Systems Audit Manual’ on 9th August 2024 for seeking comments of the stakeholders. 64 comments and 03 counter comments were received from the stakeholders, which were placed on TRAI’s website. An Open House Discussion (OHD) was held on 5th December 2024.
Subsequently, TRAI had notified the ‘Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services Interconnection (Addressable Systems) (Seventh Amendment) Regulations, 2026’ on 5th February 2026 (hereinafter referred to as the “Seventh Amendment Regulations”).
After duly considering all the comments and counter-comments received from the stakeholders in response to the consultation paper, Seventh Amendment Regulations notified on 5th February 2026 and its own analysis, the Authority has finalized the ‘Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services Digital Addressable Systems Audit Manual, 2026’ and shall come into force from 1st April 2026. The Audit Manual will be a guidance document for the audit process and lays down detailed instructions. The manual does not supersede any provision of the extant regulations.
The Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services Digital Addressable Systems Audit Manual, 2026, is available on TRAI’s website www.trai.gov.in.
For any clarification/information, Dr. Deepali Sharma, Advisor (B&CS), TRAI, may be contacted at email ID: advbcs-2@trai.gov.in or Telephone +91-11-20907774.