PolicyTelecom
Centre notifies telecom sandbox rules letting firms test new tech for 24 months
Startups, companies and researchers can now trial new telecom services on real users with exemptions from parts of the Telecommunications Act and the TRAI Act, but cannot charge them or sell the product.
Key points
- The Centre notified the Telecommunications (Regulatory Sandbox) Rules, 2026 on Thursday.
- Approved trials run for 24 months, extendable in 12-month steps.
- Users must give written consent and cannot be charged during a trial.
The Centre on Thursday notified the Telecommunications (Regulatory Sandbox) Rules, 2026, which allow startups, companies and researchers to test new telecom technologies, services and business models on real users before they are rolled out commercially.
Inside the sandbox, participants are exempted from specified provisions of the Telecommunications Act, 2023 and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997, for the duration of a trial. Newer technologies, such as 6G and advanced artificial intelligence, can be tried in a controlled real-world setting.
How it will work
Startups, large companies, researchers and scientists are all eligible. Applicants apply through a government digital portal. They must attach the reports of earlier laboratory tests and list the rules from which they want exemption. A non-refundable processing fee of ₹10,000 applies.
An approved trial runs for 24 months at first. It can be extended in 12-month steps, with a request filed at least 30 days before the current period ends.
Protecting users
Participants must tell users that the product is being tested and take their written consent. No money can be taken from any user in a trial, and the product cannot be sold commercially while the sandbox test is on.
Once testing ends, companies must keep their data, work plan and user consent records for at least a year.