- Why in news
- On 26 October 2026, TRAI released its Recommendations on an authorisation framework for Application-based Linear Television Distribution (ALTD) Services, including FAST services. This followed a reference from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting dated 15 December 2025.
- What it is
- TRAI is the statutory regulator for telecom and broadcasting, set up under the TRAI Act, 1997. It advises the government through recommendations, which are not binding. ALTD services are apps, websites or smart-TV interfaces that bundle scheduled TV channels and stream them over the internet.
- Trigger
- MIB referred the matter to TRAI under Section 11(1)(a) of the TRAI Act, 1997, which covers recommendations to the government.
- Legal basis
- ALTD is proposed as a distinct sub-category of Television Channel Distribution Services under Section 3(1)(a) of the Telecommunications Act, 2023.
- Rules
- The terms and conditions should be notified as Rules under Section 56 of the Telecommunications Act, 2023, with an online portal for processes.
- Authorisation terms
- The framework has a national service area, 20 years initial validity, renewal for 10-year periods, a ₹10,000 processing fee and a ₹1 lakh entry fee. There is no authorisation fee, bank guarantee or security deposit.
- OEM and OS duties
- MIB should keep a Master ALTD app repository. OEMs and OS providers must make available only authorised apps and file annual compliance reports.
Don’t confuse with TRAI recommendations vs binding rules: TRAI recommendations are advisory. The Central Government decides and notifies the Rules.
Don’t confuse with ALTD vs FAST: FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television) is one kind of service. ALTD is the wider term that includes FAST.
Laws, judgments and statutory bodies: 30 Prelims questions since 2013 (what the law says, who chairs, legal basis). In Mains, 44 news-triggered questions, most in GS2, asking for provisions and challenges.
Why it matters
- Brings internet-delivered linear TV under a regulatory framework, aiming at parity with cable and DTH.
- Adds consumer grievance redressal and viewership measurement for app-based TV.
Problems
- Enforcing authorisation on OEMs, OS providers and foreign app providers.
- Balancing light-touch regulation against content accountability.
Way forward
- Government to notify the Rules under Section 56 of the Telecommunications Act, 2023 after considering the recommendations.
- Operationalise the online portal and app repository with clear compliance timelines.
Put in your answer
Light-touch licensing: Example of a low-cost authorisation: ₹1 lakh entry fee and no bank guarantee.
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UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: TRAI recommendations on regulating app-based linear TV and FAST services; lasting regulatory topic but recommendations are non-binding and rarely tested.
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.