New Delhi, Nov. 9 -- The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has capped annual charges for Internet Protocol (IP) ports used in telecom interconnection at Rs 5.6 lakh per 1 Gbps port and Rs 42.3 lakh per 10 Gbps port, introducing a framework for IP-based interconnection.
The prescribed ceilings are part of the Telecommunication Interconnection (Port Charges) (Third Amendment) Regulations, 2026, released on Monday and effective from January 1, 2027.
TRAI has revised the definition of 'port' to include legacy E1 ports (2.048 Mbps) and IP ports, with bandwidth expressed in Mbps or Gbps.
Interconnection providers and seekers can mutually agree on charges below the prescribed ceilings.
They can also negotiate other port capacities, with charges determined using the same methodology as for 1 Gbps and 10 Gbps ports.
IP-port charges will apply uniformly across fixed-line, mobile, national long-distance and international long-distance services. Existing charges will continue to apply only to E1 ports, the regulator said.
To ensure compliance, TRAI has introduced a graded financial disincentive framework, with penalties capped at Rs 15 lakh per service area for each instance of contravention of specified provisions.
The amendment follows a review initiated through a pre-consultation paper on April 3, 2025, and a consultation paper issued on November 10, 2025.
An open house discussion was held on January 28, 2026.
The Telecommunication Interconnection (Port Charges) Regulation, 2001, prescribes charges payable by an interconnection seeker to a provider for terminating interconnection links at its point of interconnection.
The existing regulations were based on legacy E1/TDM-based port technologies, with charges last revised in 2012.
The latest amendments introduce IP-based port charges alongside existing E1/TDM provisions, aligning regulations with technological advancements.
TRAI said the changes would strengthen the interconnection framework, provide greater regulatory certainty and uphold effective interconnection, transparency, non-discrimination and fair competition.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.