TRAI Proposes New 5G Network Slicing Norms to Maintain Service Quality

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has proposed changes to its Quality of Service (QoS) regulations to cover 5G network slicing, a technology that allows operators to create dedicated virtual networks for different services, as per The Business Standard news report.  

The draft amendments have been released for public consultation, with comments invited until August 26, 2026. The proposals come as telecom companies begin introducing commercial network slicing services in India. 

Advance Information to Become Mandatory 

Under the draft rules, telecom operators will have to inform TRAI at least 21 days before launching a new 5G network slice. The submission must include details of both existing and proposed slice parameters.  

If an operator offers more than one network slice, each will be treated as a separate tariff offering with its own quality of service requirements. The regulator said this would help monitor the performance of individual services instead of assessing them collectively. 

Network Capacity Under Focus 

TRAI has proposed limits on the use of network resources to prevent congestion after the introduction of slicing services.  

The draft states that radio resource utilisation during peak hours should not exceed 80%, while not more than 1% of cells in a licensed service area should cross this level.  

According to the regulator, network slicing relies on dynamic allocation of resources, making it necessary to ensure that one service does not affect the performance of another during periods of heavy traffic. 

Separate Tariffs and Speed Standards 

The regulator has also proposed allowing telecom companies to introduce different tariffs for 4G, 5G, and other mobile services. Operators will be required to disclose measurable download and upload speeds for every tariff plan.  

A service will be treated as non-compliant if the measured download speed falls below 80% of the speed advertised.  

Where customers do not receive the committed speeds, operators must notify affected users and complete corrective action before filing the next compliance report. 

Penalties and Consumer Provisions 

The draft proposes a penalty of ₹2 lakh per benchmark for submitting incorrect QoS reports and ₹5 lakh for each instance of non-compliance. Repeated violations may attract penalties of up to ₹10 lakh for every benchmark.  

TRAI has also proposed rent rebates for postpaid subscribers and validity extensions for prepaid users if network outages continue for more than 24 hours. 

Aligned with International Practice 

TRAI noted that the draft framework draws on regulatory approaches followed in the European Union, the UK, France and the US, where network slicing is permitted with safeguards to protect the quality of public internet services.  

The consultation process will remain open until August 26, after which the regulator will examine stakeholder feedback before finalising the revised quality of service standards. 

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Conclusion 

The proposed rules outline how telecom operators would manage 5G network slicing while maintaining service quality across networks. The consultation process will remain open until August 26 before the regulations are finalised. 

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