Lok Sabha Question No. 2774 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-17
Subject: Telecom Infrastructure and Quality-of-Service
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Shri Vishnu Datt Sharma

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2774 ANSWERED ON 17 TH  DECEMBER, 2025

## TELECOM INFRASTRUCTURE AND QUALITY-OF-SERVICE

## 2774.   SHRI VISHNU DATT SHARMA:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is monitoring telecom infrastructure and Quality-of-Service (QoS) in districts of Panna, Katni and especially in Chandla-Khajuraho region under TRAI guidelines and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether 4G/5G towers, fibre backhaul and USOF-supported rural-connectivity works have been completed and if so, the details thereof and the details of the locations still lacking adequate signal strength or uninterrupted service;
- (c) whether call-drops, low data throughput and outages reported by residents have been verified through TRAI drive-tests or operator audits and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the details of the reasons such as insufficient tower density, pending RoW clearances, fibre constraints or operator non-compliance if connectivity gaps remain and the remedial measures taken; and
- (e) the probable timeline by which robust telecom coverage, QoS compliance and uninterrupted mobile internet will be ensured in these areas?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)

- (a) Telecom Regulatory  Authority  of  India  (TRAI)  regularly  monitors  License  Service  Area (LSA) wise performance of telecom service providers (TSPs) in the country including Panna, Katni and Chandla-Khajuraho region under TRAI guidelines.
- (b) At present 5,613 4G and 883 5G Base Transceiver Station (BTS) are installed by TSPs in the districts of Panna, Katni & Chhatarpur which includes Chandla-Khajuraho region. Further, 94 towers have been planned for providing 4G Mobile services at 111 villages and out of which 91 towers have been made on-air covering 108 villages under Digital Bharat Nidhi schemes.
- (c) TRAI conducts Independent Drive Tests and Operator Assisted Drive Tests based on the issues observed in the Performance Monitoring Report submitted by TSPs to TRAI. The finding of Drive Tests are shared with the respective TSPs to take necessary remedial action to remove the deficiencies observed in the drive tests. The details are available on TRAI website.

(d) & (e) Government  has  taken  following  steps  to  facilitate  TSPs  to  expand  their  network coverage to meet out connectivity gaps and hence improving quality of service:

- i. Uncovered  villages  are  being  provided  coverage  under  various  Digital  Bharat  Nidhi schemes.
- ii. Assignment of sufficient spectrum for mobile services through auction.
- iii. Spectrum sharing, trading and surrender has been permitted for efficient use of spectrum.
- iv. Simplification  of  Procedure  for  SACFA  (Standing  Advisory  Committee  on  Radio Frequency Allocations) clearance.
- v. Notification  of  Telecommunications  Right  of  Way  (RoW)  Rules  and  launch  of  PM GatiShakti  Sanchar  portal  has  resulted  in  streamlining  of  RoW  permissions  and expeditious clearance for installation of telecom infrastructure.

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