Regulators
TRAI moves to regulate free streaming TV apps
India’s telecom watchdog wants app-based linear TV services brought to heel on content accountability and consumer protection
NEW DELHI: India’s telecom regulator has trained its sights on a fast-growing corner of the broadcasting market that has so far operated in a regulatory grey zone. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released a consultation paper on Monday seeking to build a formal regulatory framework for application-based linear television distribution (ALTD) services, a category that includes free ad-supported streaming television, better known as FAST services.
The move follows a reference from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, made on 15th December 2025 under Section 11(1)(a) of the TRAI Act 1997, asking the regulator to examine and recommend rules for FAST services with a focus on three things: parity with existing broadcasting platforms, content accountability and consumer protection.
ALTD services cover a broad and booming segment: apps that deliver live, linear TV channels to viewers, whether pre-installed on smart television sets and other devices, downloaded as mobile or smart TV applications, or accessed through web browsers. As these platforms have multiplied, they have done so largely without the licensing and content obligations that govern traditional cable and satellite broadcasters, a gap that regulators are now keen to close.
The consultation paper puts two sets of questions on the table. The first concerns the terms and conditions under which application providers should be authorised to offer ALTD services. The second addresses the obligations that broadcasters, content providers and aggregators must meet when placing linear TV channels on these platforms.
Stakeholders have until 4th May 2026 to submit written comments and until May 18th to file counter-comments, preferably by email to advbcs-2@trai.gov.in and jtadvisor-bcs@trai.gov.in. The full text of the consultation paper is available on TRAI’s website at www.trai.gov.in. For clarifications, Deepali Sharma, advisor (B&CS) at TRAI, can be reached at +91-11-20907774.
India’s streaming market has exploded in recent years, and FAST channels, which cost viewers nothing and are funded by advertising, have emerged as a potent vehicle for reaching mass audiences on connected televisions. Regulators the world over are scrambling to catch up. TRAI has now made clear it does not intend to be left behind.
I&B Ministry
Digital radio, D2M tech set to reshape broadcasting and public messaging
Govt pushes next-gen delivery while TRAI tightens grip on spam ecosystem
NEW DELHI: India’s broadcasting and telecom landscape is undergoing a quiet but significant upgrade, with digital radio and Direct-to-Mobile (D2M) technologies emerging as powerful tools for mass communication, while regulators step up efforts to tackle spam calls.
According to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, digital radio and D2M are poised to transform how content reaches audiences by making more efficient use of spectrum. In simple terms, multiple channels can now be delivered over a single frequency, opening the door to a wider range of free-to-air content.
D2M technology takes this a step further by enabling video, audio and data to be broadcast directly to mobile handsets without relying on SIM cards or mobile data. The result is a resilient and cost-effective data pipe that can deliver everything from entertainment and education to critical emergency alerts, even in low-connectivity scenarios.
At the same time, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India is tightening its grip on unsolicited commercial communication, better known as spam calls. The regulator has deployed a distributed ledger technology platform to bring transparency and accountability into the system.
Through this blockchain-based setup, consumers can register their preferences on receiving promotional messages, while businesses and telemarketers must also sign up and operate within defined rules. The platform also includes a complaint mechanism that allows users to report spam, with complaints shared across telecom operators for coordinated action.
The government’s broader push is being supported by infrastructure upgrades under the Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development scheme. Implemented through Prasar Bharati, the initiative focuses on modernising networks such as Akashvani and Doordarshan, including digitisation and adoption of next-generation broadcast equipment.
In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting minister of state for information and broadcasting L. Murugan said these steps are part of a larger effort to promote emerging technologies and strengthen the country’s broadcasting backbone. The response came to a query raised by member of Parliament Rao Rajendra Singh.
Together, these developments point to a dual-track strategy: expanding access to reliable, low-cost content while cleaning up the communication ecosystem. As digital pipes get smarter and spam filters sharper, India’s airwaves may soon feel a lot less noisy and far more useful.
