Mumbai: At the 25th edition of FICCI FRAMES, Anil Kumar Lahoti, Chairman, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), emphasised the need for balanced regulation and innovation to drive the next phase of growth in India’s broadcasting and media industry.
Lahoti noted that India’s Media & Entertainment (M&E) sector contributed ₹2.5 trillion to the economy in 2024 and is projected to cross ₹3 trillion by 2027. The television and broadcasting segment alone generated nearly ₹680 billion last year.
He highlighted the sector’s transformation from analog to digital and now 4K broadcasting, complemented by the growth of Smart TVs, 5G, and OTT platforms serving over 600 million users. Despite this surge, linear television remains the primary medium across 190 million TV households.
“TRAI’s approach is to enable orderly growth through innovation and fair competition while ensuring transparency for consumers and protection for smaller players,” said Lahoti.
Citing recent regulatory reforms, he referred to TRAI’s amendments to the Cable and TV Broadcasting Framework and the proposed authorisation-based regime under the Telecommunication Act, 2023, aimed at improving ease of doing business and simplifying compliance.
Lahoti also highlighted TRAI’s recommendations for the launch of digital radio broadcasting in major Indian cities to strengthen the FM ecosystem and modernize India’s audio landscape.
He concluded by reaffirming TRAI’s commitment to working with industry stakeholders to realise the Prime Minister’s vision of an “Orange Economy” powered by content, creativity, and culture.
