The Indian regulator TRAI could soon be replaced by a ‘super regulator’ with a mandate over all communications in the country.

The new Indian government is reportedly planning to introduce a new body known as the Communication Commission that would retain TRAI’s authority, but extend its powers across the country’s communication sector.

Several Asian countries have created unified regulators covering the broadcasting and telecoms sectors, as many issues overlap between the sectors due to increasing levels of convergence. Although the previous Indian government introduced a bill in 2003 that proposed a merged regulator covering IT, telecoms and media, it was not passed.