TRAI chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti in conversation with Anil Singhvi on spam, connectivity, AI, 6G

India’s telecom sector is entering a phase of deep structural change, driven by rising data usage, rapid technological shifts and growing consumer expectations. In an exclusive interview with Zee Business Managing Editor Anil Singhvi, the chairman of the telecom regulator outlined how India plans to tackle spam calls, improve indoor connectivity, use artificial intelligence across networks and prepare for the transition from 5G to 6G. Telecom Regulatory Authority of India chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti said the regulator’s focus is on modern, tech-driven rules that protect consumers while ensuring the telecom industry remains strong enough to invest in future networks.

Here are excerpts from the exclusive interview in which Zee Business Managing Editor Anil Singhi spoke with TRAI Chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti on spam calls, AI, and the future of 5G and 6G:

1. What roadmap is TRAI laying out for telecom and broadcasting?

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Lahoti said telecom and broadcasting are going through a period of rapid transformation driven by data growth, new technologies and changing content consumption. Regulation, he said, cannot remain static.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has started updating their policies because they need to align their rules with the current situation. The organization aims to support digital service growth through its operations, which maintain equal market conditions for all competitors, and protect customer selection rights between telecom and broadcasting platforms.

2. Who is Anil Kumar Lahoti?

Lahoti took charge as TRAI chairman in January 2024. Before this role, he spent 37 years with Indian Railways, gaining experience in managing large-scale infrastructure systems. He holds an engineering degree from Gwalior and a post-graduate qualification in structural engineering from IIT Roorkee. His background, he said, helps him approach telecom networks as essential national infrastructure that must be reliable and future-ready.

3. How does TRAI plan to stop spam calls and messages?

Spam remains one of the biggest irritants for consumers, especially at a time when India handles around 110 billion calls and SMS every day. Lahoti said traditional methods are no longer sufficient at this scale.

TRAI has built a technology-based framework that uses blockchain to stop unauthorised telemarketing and artificial intelligence to detect misuse of personal numbers for commercial calls. Consumers who opt out of telemarketing do not receive such calls, he said. As a result, about 400 million calls and messages are blocked or flagged daily, while verified spam complaints have fallen sharply.

4. What is digital consent acquisition and why does it matter?

Digital consent acquisition is one of TRAI’s most important reforms, aimed at giving consumers full control over who can contact them. While the Do Not Disturb registry allows users to block marketing calls, many people forget where they have given consent. Under the new system, consumers will be able to see, manage and withdraw their consent easily, putting decision-making power firmly back in their hands.

5. When will digital consent acquisition be implemented fully?

A pilot project for digital consent acquisition has already been launched in the banking sector. The project, carried out with support from the Reserve Bank of India, includes 11 major banks and was rolled out in December 2025.

Lahoti said the pilot has been successful and work is under way to implement the system fully across these banks. Once stabilised, the framework will be extended to other parts of the financial sector.

6. Why is indoor connectivity emerging as a major challenge?

The mobile network coverage outside has become better, but many big homes and tall buildings still experience poor reception inside their structures. The average person now uses about 28 GB of data per month when they connect to 4G, and 5G networks, which shows their strong dependence on mobile internet.

Lahoti explained that 5G needs to work with higher-frequency bands, which experience signal loss when they pass through building walls. The solution requires TRAI to build special digital systems. These will support indoor spaces through low-power antenna systems that operate within building structures. The antenna systems will operate as shared resources, which all service providers can use to enhance their coverage while avoiding duplicate network infrastructure.

7. How will star ratings for buildings improve connectivity transparency?

TRAI will establish a digital system which will determine property connectivity ratings by analyzing mobile network performance inside buildings. The evaluation system will assign buildings star ratings, which help property buyers and tenants determine what level of connectivity they can expect. The new system will need builders and property owners to treat digital connectivity as a basic utility. It needs to follow the same rules as water and electricity services.

8. How will TRAI balance consumer interests and telecom profitability?

The telecom industry faces two opposing challenges because operators must deliver better service quality to customers, yet their current financial situation does not provide enough money to fund these improvements. He said industry growth is essential for improving services over the long term. TRAI is working to maintain a balance between consumer protection and industry viability by rationalising spectrum prices, allowing infrastructure sharing and simplifying regulations to improve ease of doing business. Policies, he added, are designed to support innovation rather than restrict it.

9. What challenges does the broadcasting sector face today?

Traditional broadcasting is under pressure as alternative digital technologies gain ground. Lahoti said TRAI’s basic principle is to promote competition while ensuring a level playing field.
The regulator is working to lower entry barriers for new players without hurting smaller broadcasters. The sector receives regulatory process simplification, which enables it to handle its fast-changing technological environment.

10. How will AI reshape the telecom sector in the next few years?

Telecom networks will depend on artificial intelligence to direct network traffic and detect network issues, and deliver superior customer support. Lahoti stated that AI technology will help organizations handle their complicated work systems. This will result in improved efficiency for all industry operations. The system needs this technology to deliver better service quality to customers because networks now handle more complex operations.

11. What is TRAI’s vision for 6G and the future of networks?

Lahoti explains that telecom networks have evolved into digital platforms because they now support voice communication, data transmission, and content delivery services. The upcoming networks will support voice communication and data transfer while they establish storage capabilities to run AI-based applications.

The development of 6G technology has started because scientists expect this new generation to emerge from their work with artificial intelligence. Lahoti said regulators need to stay flexible because they should protect consumer interests while supporting ongoing innovation.