Trai launches platform to rate properties on digital connectivity

Digital rating of buildings is crucial as 70-80 per cent of mobile data consumption takes place indoors; platform will help consumers make buying and leasing decisions

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) on Friday launched the Digital Connectivity Rating platform which will enable consumers, property developers and holders to provide visibility of property ratings. The regulator also launched an app for testing digital connectivity inside buildings, which has become crucial since about 70-80 per cent of mobile data consumption takes place indoors. 

 

"The launch of the digital connectivity rating platform marks an important step towards making digital connectivity within properties more measurable, transparent, and accessible. It will support better planning, improve coordination among stakeholders, and provide consumers with credible information about the connectivity infrastructure and performance of the properties," Trai Chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti said in a briefing on Friday. 

  

The platform makes the quality of connectivity within homes, offices, institutions, and public spaces an important part of the digital connectivity experience. It has digitised the complete process and to provide visibility to the consumers. Along with a dedicated mobile application for testing of the digital connectivity, the platform provides an integrated digital interface for the complete rating process.  

 

The platform, which combines the portal and the app, will be available for property managers and customers. Ratings are by star levels, with one being lowest and five being highest. The regulator had introduced half star ratings also for under construction properties. 

 

Property managers can onboard, register properties, submit the rating applications, upload prescribed documents, select a registered digital connectivity rating agency, and track the status of their applications. The digital connectivity rating agencies (DCRA) can apply for registration, access assigned properties, conduct assessment, record their observations and test results, and upload supporting documents on the platform. The field assessment will be conducted through the dedicated DCRA mobile app. Authorised DCRA's will be enabled to use the app to measure in-building digital connectivity in accordance with the prescribed methodology. 

 

For customers, the platform offers a public rating search page, where consumers can search a property by name or location, enabling them to make an informed choice based on a building’s digital connectivity score. "This will help in buying and leasing decisions," Trai said. 

 

The platform will synchronise the digital connectivity test details received through the app. 

 

It supports the rating of constructed as well as under construction properties. For under construction properties, there is a staged certification process spanning the design and planning phase for digital connectivity infrastructure, verifying the installation, and the final grading or rating after testing is completed. 

 

Stakeholders can search for rated properties, view published ratings, and verify the certificates through the platform. 

 

The platform follows the DCR framework issued in 2024 offering standardised assessment of digital connectivity infrastructure and property performance based on parameters such as fiber readiness, mobile network availability, in-building solutions, WiFi infrastructure. The framework also assesses redundancy as well as resilience of the digital connectivity along with the power supply for the digital infrastructure, with applicable benchmarks for the different property categories.  

Trai chairman noted the slow uptake of the ratings since it was voluntary for property owners and developers. So far only seven properties have been star rated, even though several agenciesnhave been empanelled to give the ratings and few developers have also started to adhere to the DCR framework. However, he said that increased consumer awareness would build the demand among consumers asking for star ratings before they decide on leasing or purchasing a property.