India's Telecom Regulatory Authority has opened consultation on responsible AI use in telecommunications, proposing governance duties for entities using AI in networks or telecom services. The October 30 draft invites written comments through November 27 and remains a proposal, not a finalized rule already in force.
The draft would require an internal AI policy approved by an operator's board or equivalent governing body. It proposes classifying systems by risk and incidents by severity, recording incidents centrally, and providing human oversight appropriate to the risks.
Operators would also maintain inventories of AI systems and assess new deployments or changes before use. The document addresses third-party procurement, data governance, incident management and consumer grievances, reflecting the fact that an operator may rely on AI supplied by another company.
A proposed AI Governance and Safety Committee, headed by a senior executive, would oversee implementation and periodic review. The consultation also states that an operator remains accountable for outcomes regardless of whether systems are built internally or procured externally.
The significance is sector-specific: AI decisions can affect connectivity, essential services and network resilience, making operational supervision consequential beyond an individual chatbot response. The final obligations, timing and implementation details may change after consultation. The official consultation page's open status and deadline are the authoritative description of the current proceeding.