Trai bats for national registration of consumer bodies to boost awareness about 5G, 6G, AI, IoT

Highlighting the importance of consumer organisations in raising awareness about the benefits of emerging technologies like 5G, 6G, AI and IoT etc, Trai has proposed that such organisations should be registered at national level, with presence in multiple states and union territories (UTs).

Currently, such organisations are registered by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) state-wise as part of Registration of Consumer Organisations Regulations, 2013. Trai has now proposed to amend the regulations to register such organisations at a national level.

The regulator believes that consumer organisations can play a supporting role in raising awareness about the benefits accrued out of emerging technologies 5G, 6G, artificial intelligence (AI), internet of things (loT), particularly to the marginalised communities, people in rural areas for bridging the digital divide.


These organisations can assist Trai in conducting theme-based events, explaining the use cases of the emerging technologies, educate consumers of different sections such as women, farmers, fisheries, students etc. about their potential benefits, and also propagate cyber hygiene and make consumers aware of data privacy.

Releasing the draft Registration of Consumer Organisations (Amendment) Regulations, 2023 for stakeholders' comments, Trai said it felt a need to register national level consumer organisations, having capability and experience in campaigning and conducting theme-based events by developing awareness material can provide an interface between consumers and authority.

“The proposed amendment would enable the Authority to register capable consumer organisations having wider reach to work in more than five states/UTs under national level registration. It simplifies the registration process for such consumer organisations,” Trai said.