On August 5, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released a consultation paper proposing amendments to existing telecom Quality of Service (QoS) regulations to include 5G network slicing. The regulator is seeking comments from telecom stakeholders, including service providers and consumers, with a submission deadline of August 26 and counter comments due by September 7, 2026, according to medianama.com.
The consultation paper outlines how TRAI plans to monitor resource allocation in 5G network slicing using Physical Resource Block (PRB) utilization figures in 5G New Radio (NR) networks. It proposes that telcos maintain PRB utilization below 80%, and if utilization exceeds this threshold for five days in a month, service providers must augment capacity promptly to reduce it. If capacity cannot be improved to bring utilization below 80%, TRAI suggests removing the network slicing feature, as detailed on medianama.com.
This move reflects the regulator's intent to ensure reliable 5G service quality amid growing demand and complex network management. By incorporating network slicing into QoS regulations, TRAI aims to hold operators accountable for resource allocation and network performance. The proposal also includes requirements for coverage maps, network outage disclosures, and silence call rate disclosures, aligning with broader efforts to enhance transparency and consumer protection in India’s telecom sector, medianama.com reports.
Stakeholders have until August 26 to submit their feedback on the proposed amendments, with counter comments due by September 7. The consultation paper and submission details are available on TRAI’s official website, marking a key step in formalizing 5G network management standards in India.