TRAI direction F. No. RG-17/(3)/2022-QoS · 22 Nov 2024
Official title
Direction on Standards of QoS of Access (Wireline and Wireless) and Broadband (Wireline and Wireless) Service Regulations, 2024 dated 02nd August 2024, regarding publication of service wise geospatial coverage map.
Official record
Open source pageSummary
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued guidelines for wireless access service providers to publish service-wise (2G, 3G, 4G, 5G) geospatial coverage maps on their websites. This directive, issued under the 2024 Quality of Service Regulations, aims to provide transparency and assist consumers in making informed decisions. Service providers must display coverage based on specific signal strength thresholds, use a standardized color scheme, and provide interactive features such as search, zoom, and user feedback mechanisms. Maps must be updated to reflect network changes within a maximum of three months. Compliance with the benchmark for the availability of these maps is required effective from 1st April 2025.
What you must do
Key dates
Who is affected
Thresholds
भारतीय दूरसंचार विनियामक प्राधिकरण Telecom Regulatory Authority of India [भारत सरकार / Government of India]
Dated: 22nd November 2024
DIRECTION
Subject: Direction under section 13, read with sub-clauses (i) and (v) of clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 11, of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997 (24 of 1997) and the Standards of Quality of Service of Access (Wireline and Wireless) and Broadband (Wireline and Wireless) Service Regulations, 2024 (06 of 2024) dated 02nd August 2024, regarding publication of service wise geospatial coverage map.
F. No. RG-17/(3)/2022-QoS ---- Whereas the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (hereinafter referred to as the “Authority”), established under sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997 (24 of 1997) (hereinafter referred to as “TRAI Act”), has been entrusted with discharge of certain functions, inter alia, to regulate the telecommunication services; ensure compliance of terms and conditions of license; ensure technical compatibility and effective inter-connection between different service providers; lay-down the standards of quality of service to be provided by the service providers and ensure the quality of service and conduct the periodical survey of such services provided by the service providers so as to protect the interest of the consumers of telecommunication service;
And whereas the Authority, in exercise of the powers conferred upon it under section 36, read with sub-clauses (i) and (v) of clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 11, of the TRAI Act, made the Standards of Quality of Service of Access (Wireline and Wireless) and Broadband (Wireline and Wireless) Service Regulations, 2024 (06 of 2024) dated the 2nd August 2024 (hereinafter referred to as “the regulations”), which came into force with effect from 1st October 2024;
And whereas sub-regulation (3) of regulation 15 of the regulations provides for publication of service wise geospatial coverage maps by the service providers and the said regulation reads as under:-
“15. Publication.─ (1) The Authority may publish, in such manner and in such format, as may be decided by the Authority from time to time─ (a) the compliance reports of benchmarks of each QoS parameter reported to it by the service providers under regulation 13; (b) the results of the customer satisfaction surveys undertaken by the Authority under regulation 11; (c) the results of drive tests undertaken by the Authority under sub-regulation (3) of regulation 7; (d) the findings of audit undertaken by the Authority under regulation 14; through its website or through press releases or through advertisements in the print or electronic media, for the information to the public.
(2) Every service provider shall publish, for the information of the consumers, its performance with respect to the benchmark of QoS parameters specified in regulation 4, regulation 6, regulation 7, regulation 9 and regulation 10, as applicable, in such manner and format, as may be directed by the Authority from time to time.
(3) Every service provider providing access service (wireless) shall publish on its website the service wise geospatial coverage maps in such a manner and format, as may be directed by the Authority from time to time, for the geographical areas where wireless voice or wireless broadband service is available for subscription by consumers.”
And whereas the Authority, vide its letter No. RG-17/(3)/2022-QoS dated 13th August 2024, requested all the service providers to furnish inputs, inter-alia, on the format, manner and timeline for publication of service wise geospatial coverage maps by the service provider on its website, latest by 23rd August 2024;
And whereas a meeting was held with service providers on 21st August 2024 to discuss, inter alia, the key aspects of the regulations and during the said meeting, on the request of service providers, the last date for submission of inputs, as sought vide letter dated 13th August 2024, was extended till 27th August 2024 and the same was conveyed to all service providers, vide the Minutes of Meeting dated 27th August 2024;
And whereas the Authority observed that the service providers have not furnished their inputs by the extended date of submission i.e., 27th August 2024, and therefore, one-to-one meetings were held with the service providers on 26th - 27th September 2024 and 7th October 2024 to discuss the matter;
And whereas, subsequent to the said meetings, M/s. Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited submitted additional inputs vide letter No. BSNLCO-RGLN/26/3/2020-REGLN dated 8th October 2024;
And whereas based upon the inputs received from the service providers the Authority has made a comprehensive guidelines for publication of service wise geospatial coverage map by service providers on their website
Now, therefore, the Authority, in exercise of the powers conferred upon it under section 13, read with sub-clauses (i) and (v) of clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 11, of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997 (24 of 1997), hereby directs all service providers providing access service (wireless), to publish on their website the service wise (2G/ 3G/ 4G/ 5G) geospatial coverage maps for the geographical areas where wireless voice or wireless broadband service is available for subscription by consumers, as per the guidelines as attached as annexure to this Direction.
Enclosures: As above
Signed by Tejpal Singh Date: 22-11-2024 12:53:10 Advisor (QoS-I)
To, All Service Providers, providing access service (wireless), under: i. Unified Access Service License; ii. Unified License with authorization for Access Service; iii. Authorization under the Telecommunications Act, 2023 for providing Access Service.
वर्ल्ड ट्रेड सेंटर, टावर-एफ, नौरोजी नगर, नई दिल्ली-110029 World Trade Centre, Tower-F, Nauroji Nagar New Delhi – 110029
Annexure
Guidelines for publication of service wise geospatial coverage map by service providers on their website
1. Background 1.1. Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has notified revised Quality of Service (QoS) Regulations namely “The Standards of Quality of Service of Access (Wireline and Wireless) and Broadband (Wireline and Wireless) Service Regulations, 2024 (06 of 2024)” on 02.08.2024. The regulations have come into force w.e.f. 1st October 2024. These Regulations are applicable for both access and broadband services provided on wireline as well as wireless media. 1.2. Sub-regulation (3) of regulation 15 of the regulations mandate that “Every service provider providing access service (wireless) shall publish on its website the service wise geospatial coverage maps in such a manner and format, as may be directed by the Authority from time to time, for the geographical areas where wireless voice or wireless broadband service is available for subscription by consumers.” 1.3. Further, service providers are required to meet the benchmark of QoS parameter namely “Availability of service wise geospatial coverage map on service provider’s website for percentage of working cells (Benchmark ≥ 99%)” with effective from 1st April 2025, for compliance of above-mentioned mandate.
2. Overview 2.1. Information on mobile network coverage is important from the perspective of QoS. One cannot expect good QoS in a non-coverage area. 2.2. The availability of a service wise geospatial coverage map on the service provider’s website will help consumers to make informed decisions. 2.3. These guidelines are issued to enable uniformity and transparency in publication of network coverage maps by telecom service providers (TSPs) providing access (wireless) service.
