Regulators
TRAI and Singapore’s IMDA sign pact to deepen telecom cooperation
LoI covers spectrum, market regulation, consumer protection and technical innovation
MUMBAI: India and Singapore are tuning into the same regulatory frequency. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and Singapore’s Info-communications Media Development Authority (IMDA) have signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) to strengthen institutional cooperation across telecommunications and broadcasting regulation.
The agreement was signed on 20 August in Singapore by TRAI Secretary Harinder Kumar and IMDA Deputy CEO and Director-General Aileen Chia, on the sidelines of the 4th India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable.
The pact will create a framework for the two regulators to exchange knowledge, information, expertise and regulatory experience as both countries navigate rapidly evolving telecommunications and digital markets.
The cooperation will cover several areas, including radio spectrum management, telecommunications market regulation, consumer protection and technical innovation.
The two authorities will also share regulatory experience related to international cooperation, particularly through the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
Rather than being a one-off exchange, the LoI is intended to provide a basis for sustained institutional engagement, allowing TRAI and IMDA to share regulatory practices, experiences and best practices as the telecom and broadcasting landscape changes.
The signing took place in the presence of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada, alongside their Singaporean counterparts and senior officials.
For TRAI, the agreement marks another step towards closer regulatory cooperation between India and Singapore at a time when telecommunications, broadcasting and digital services are becoming increasingly intertwined.
With spectrum, consumer protection and emerging technology all on the table, the partnership puts regulatory dialogue on a more connected footing between the two markets.
