**Executive Summary**
The Department of Posts (DoP) and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on July 10, 2026, to conduct a nationwide survey of mobile network performance across 5.68 lakh villages. This one-year partnership utilizes the postal network's rural reach to identify connectivity gaps and improve telecom infrastructure. Gramin Dak Sevaks will collect field-level data using a specialized Android application to support evidence-based policy decisions.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Project Scope and Objectives**
* Conducts India’s largest village-level telecom network performance survey covering all States and Union Territories.
* Assesses the service quality of major Telecom Service Providers (TSPs): Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio, Vodafone Idea, and BSNL.
* Aims to bridge digital connectivity gaps and accelerate the "Digital India" vision through authentic grassroots data.
**Operational Framework**
* Leverages the DoP’s network of over 1.40 lakh rural Branch Post Offices.
* Data collection is performed by Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDSs) during their routine delivery operations.
* Utilizes a dedicated Android-based mobile application developed by TRAI for real-time performance tracking.
**Institutional Roles**
* **Department of Posts:** Responsible for executing field survey operations through its nationwide postal workforce.
* **TRAI:** Responsible for providing the survey application, technical support, training, and centralized monitoring.
* The collaboration is established as a one-year partnership to strengthen telecom service quality and regulatory decision-making.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Department of Posts (DoP)**
**Impact**
The department leverages its extensive rural presence and workforce to play a vital role in the creation of national digital infrastructure.
**Action Required**
Deploy the postal workforce (GDSs) to conduct field surveys using the TRAI mobile application during daily delivery routines.
**Stakeholder: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)**
**Impact**
Gains access to reliable, field-level data from 5.68 lakh villages to inform regulatory decisions and monitor TSP performance effectively.
**Action Required**
Provide the necessary mobile application, technical support, and training to postal staff, while maintaining centralized monitoring of the data.
**Stakeholder: Telecom Service Providers (TSPs)**
**Impact**
Their network performance will be subject to granular, village-level assessment, identifying specific areas where infrastructure improvements are necessary.
**Action Required**
No specific action is mentioned for TSPs in the document, though the survey results will identify their connectivity gaps.
**Stakeholder: Rural Citizens**
**Impact**
Expected improvement in telecom service quality and digital inclusion as a result of evidence-based policy decisions and infrastructure upgrades.
**Action Required**
No direct action required.
Key Entities Referenced
Department of Posts (DoP): The primary executing agency leveraging its network of 1.40 lakh rural Branch Post Offices to conduct the nationwide telecom survey.
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI): The regulatory body providing the technical framework, survey application, and monitoring to assess mobile network performance.
Digital India: The flagship government program for digital empowerment and connectivity that this survey initiative aims to accelerate.
Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDSs): The frontline postal workforce responsible for generating field-level data on mobile connectivity during their delivery operations.
Telecom Service Providers (TSPs): The industry entities, specifically Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio, Vodafone Idea, and BSNL, whose network performance is being evaluated.
Ministry of Communications
Department of Posts and TRAI Join Hands to
Conduct India's Largest Village-Level Telecom
Network Performance Survey
प्रव तथ: 10 JUL 2026 6:54PM by PIB Delhi
In a major step towards strengthening Digital India and improving rural telecom services, the Department
of Posts (DoP), Ministry of Communications, and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)
today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in New Delhi to conduct a nationwide app-based
survey to assess the mobile network performance of Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) - Bharti Airtel,
Reliance Jio, Vodafone Idea and BSNL - across over 5.68 lakh villages in India. The initiative has been
undertaken under the leadership of the Union Minister of Communications and Development of North
Eastern Region, Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, reaffirming the Government's commitment to
strengthening digital connectivity and accelerating the vision of Digital India.
(Department of Posts and TRAI exchange the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the
nationwide mobile network performance survey.)
The MoU was signed by Ms. Manisha Bansal Badal, General Manager (Citizen Centric Services &
Rural Business), Department of Posts and Shri S. M. K. Chandra, Joint Advisor (Broadband & Policy
Analysis), TRAI, in the presence of senior officials from both organisations.
Leveraging the Department of Posts' unparalleled network of more than 1.40 lakh rural Branch Post
Offices, the survey will be conducted by Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDSs) during their routine delivery
operations using a specially developed Android-based mobile application developed by TRAI. Covering
villages across all States and Union Territories, the initiative will generate field-level data on mobile
network performance to identify connectivity gaps, improve telecom infrastructure, and support evidence-
based policy decisions for strengthening digital connectivity across rural India.Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Manisha Bansal Badal, General Manager (CCS & RB), Department of
Posts, said, "The Department of Posts has consistently partnered with various Government organisations
to deliver citizen-centric services by leveraging its unparalleled reach and trusted presence across the
country. This collaboration with TRAI reinforces our commitment towards Digital India by supporting the
creation of reliable digital infrastructure. Our dedicated postal workforce will play a vital role in
generating authentic field-level data to improve telecom services for citizens across rural India."
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Arun Agarwal, Pr. Advisor (NSL), TRAI, said, “This collaboration with the
Department of Posts will significantly strengthen TRAI's capability to assess telecom network
performance at the grassroots level. The Department's extensive field network will enable systematic
collection of reliable network performance data, supporting informed regulatory decisions and improved
quality of telecom services for consumers."
Under the MoU, the Department of Posts will carry out field survey operations through its nationwide
postal network, while TRAI will provide the survey application, technical support, training and centralized
monitoring. The one-year partnership is expected to strengthen telecom service quality, bridge digital
connectivity gaps, and further the vision of a digitally empowered and inclusive India.
***
AMK/ARJ
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