New Delhi: Property buyers and tenants will now have another factor to consider before purchasing or leasing a home, office or other premises. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has launched the Digital Connectivity Rating (DCR) Platform to assess and compare properties’ digital connectivity readiness.
The platform was launched on September 24 and makes ratings of participating properties publicly searchable. Consumers can search for a rated property by name, certificate ID or location and view their digitally signed rating certificate. The authenticity of a certificate can also be checked with a QR code.
Digital connectivity, the plan says, must be made as visible and measurable as possible in buildings and other properties. TRAI Chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti said that this platform would be able to provide consumers with credible and comparable information for choosing homes and offices in the areas where connectivity is critical.
What does the Digital Connectivity Rating measure?
The DCR framework assesses properties on several aspects of digital infrastructure and connectivity.
These include:
Fibre connectivity and readiness
Mobile networks within buildings. In-building mobile connectivity solutions. Wi-Fi infrastructure. Connectivity options such as 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G. Indoor signal coverage. Digital infrastructure readiness. Network and power redundancy. Future readiness for technologies like 5G and IoT.
TRAI's official FAQ states that the framework is designed to assess and benchmark digital connectivity within properties and encourage the development of digitally connected, future-ready buildings.
The rating thus goes beyond the testing of whether or not a mobile network or broadband connection is available at the particular location. It also considers the infrastructure in a property capable of providing a reliable connection.
This could be particularly relevant for large residential complexes, office buildings, commercial spaces and other locations where indoor connectivity may sometimes be weaker than outdoor network coverage.
How will property rating work?
Property managers can register their residential, commercial, government or public properties on the platform and apply for a Digital Connectivity Rating.
The assessment is conducted by a Digital Connectivity Rating Agency (DCRA) listed with TRAI. The authorised personnel use a mobile application to carry out in-building connectivity measurements and record the results.
The information collected during the assessment is synchronised with the main platform, where it is used for assessment, report generation, certification and publication of the rating.
Once a property receives a rating, consumers can search for it through the public interface. The digitally signed certificate and QR-code verification mechanism are intended to make it easier to check whether a rating is genuine.
The system is currently voluntary, according to TRAI's official FAQ. Property owners and developers are encouraged to participate, but the framework doesn’t make it mandatory to obtain a rating.
Under-Construction Properties Can Also Be Assessed
One of the changes introduced in the 2026 amendments is that properties still under construction can be part of the framework.
This is significant because many residential and commercial properties are marketed and sold before construction is complete. TRAI’s amended regulations enable a phased assessment of digital connectivity infrastructure planned for such properties.
At the design stage, a DCRA can assess the proposed digital connectivity infrastructure based on approved design documents and declarations submitted by the property manager. A 'Designed For' certificate can then be issued for the property.
The goal is to encourage developers to consider digital infrastructure when designing and building buildings rather than trying to add connectivity solutions after a project has already been completed.
TRAI allows existing properties to be assessed based on the digital connectivity infrastructure they already have.
Rating Scale Expanded To 9 Levels.
TRAI also revised the rating framework in May 2026.
The new regulations included additional half-star levels, and the rating scale was expanded from five to nine levels. TRAI says that this change is to make the distinction between properties clearer and consumers more aware of the incremental improvements in digital connectivity infrastructure and service performance.
Thus, the rating framework gives you more granularity than a simple five-category system.
The regulator has also provided for reassessment and renewal mechanisms so that ratings can be updated as the connectivity conditions of a property change.
This is important because digital infrastructure can change quickly. A building with very good connectivity in the present day could see network upgrades and infrastructure upgrades or other changes.
Which properties are covered?
The framework can also be used in residential apartments.
TRAI's official FAQ says the rating system can cover a wide range of properties, including residential complexes, offices and commercial properties, malls and retail outlets, educational institutions, healthcare facilities, airports, metro rail facilities, stadiums and open spaces.
Due to the broader coverage, the rating would eventually become relevant to many parts of the built environment.
For example, a company looking for office space could use the rating to compare connectivity infrastructure between different buildings. A homebuyer might also evaluate a property's mobile coverage and broadband readiness alongside price and amenities.
Digital Connectivity Is Becoming A Property Factor
Reliable internet and mobile connections have become increasingly important in the lives of people in the home and in business.
Remote work, online education, digital payments, streaming, cloud applications, connected devices and other services depend heavily on stable connectivity. At the same time, mobile data consumption inside buildings has increased significantly.
TRAI’s original 2024 framework noted that much of India’s data consumption takes place indoors or in public premises and that the growth of high-speed mobile technologies has increased the importance of digital connectivity infrastructure within buildings.
A framework of the regulator is therefore intended not only to inform consumers but also to encourage property managers and developers to include digital connectivity infrastructure in buildings.
What the New Platform means for consumers?
The DCR platform allows consumers to access standardised information on a property’s connectivity, rather than the informal assertions of property owners or developers.
A buyer or tenant can check out a rated property and verify its certificate. The information can then form one part of the decision-making process when comparing properties.
A Digital Connectivity Rating should not be taken as a guarantee of an identical internet experience for every person in a building. Experience can vary depending on the telecom operator, device, location within the building, network traffic, and so on.
TRAI instead looks at assessing the property's digital connectivity infrastructure and readiness according to prescribed criteria.
TRAI's Larger Digital Connectivity Push
The launch of the DCR platform marks the operationalisation of a framework that TRAI first established through its Rating of Properties for Digital Connectivity Regulations, 2024.
The regulations were intended to encourage property managers to provide better digital connectivity and provide prospective users with more visibility into a property's connectivity infrastructure. The framework was revised in 2026 after stakeholder feedback and implementation experience. TRAI made changes around rating levels, under-construction properties, property categories, and assessment procedures.
Now that the public platform is in place, consumers can access ratings for properties that have been assessed.
For developers and managers, digital connectivity could be another factor that affects the attractiveness of residential, commercial, and public spaces. Consumers get new information to consider for lease or purchase in the process.
