TRAI Issues Seventh Amendment To Broadcasting Interconnection Regulations

TRAI, has, on February 5, 2026, released the Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services Interconnection (Addressable Systems) (Seventh Amendment) Regulations, 2026 (‘Amendments’), to amend the Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services Interconnection (Addressable Systems) Regulations, 2017. Key highlights of the Amendments are set out below:

1. Annual Audit Cycle and Scope Revised: The audit of addressable systems (including subscriber management system, conditional access system, etc.) must now be conducted for each financial year (instead of calendar year), with the audit report along with the annexures to be shared with broadcasters by September 30 annually. The annual audit requirement is optional for distributors with an active subscriber base of 30,000 or less as of the last day of the preceding financial year;