TRAI is moving the record of agreements between telecom networks to an online filing system. From January 1, 2027, service providers will need to submit searchable documents on a defined timetable, making the upkeep of the register a more regular compliance task.
The regulator released the Register of Interconnect Agreements (Fourth Amendment) Regulations, 2026 on November 6. Interconnection agreements cover the commercial and technical arrangements that let traffic pass between networks. Registration already exists under a framework dating to 1999.
The Breakdown
Agreements in force on January 1 must be filed within fifteen days from that date. New agreements and modifications must be submitted within fifteen days of execution or modification. Providers will use TRAI’s portal and supply text-searchable PDFs, replacing the requirement for printed copies and a copy on floppy or diskette.
Public access also gains an online route. Applications to inspect the register, access its prescribed portions, or obtain copies and extracts can go through the portal alongside the existing physical route. Access remains subject to the regulations. Inspection will cost ₹1,500 per hour or part of an hour, while copies and extracts will cost ₹500 per page.
The work behind the upload
For an operator, the practical preparation begins with knowing which agreements are active and which versions contain later changes. A searchable document can help someone find a term, but the filing still needs to contain the right agreement and its amendments.
There are two different workloads here: bringing the existing agreements into the system at commencement, then keeping new deals and subsequent changes current. Assigning responsibility for both would help connect the legal team that handles an agreement with the team that files it.
The Crunch
This is a change to the record of interconnection agreements, separate from the November 3 amendment on how networks connect. Its practical value will depend on whether filings are complete, searchable and kept up to date. The immediate business task is to prepare the documents and the process that keeps them current.
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