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RG-17/(3)/2022-QoS-Part(2) I/29344/2024
भा(cid:2)रती(cid:5)य दूर(cid:9) सं(cid:11)चा(cid:2)र वि(cid:14)नि(cid:16)य(cid:2)मक प्रा(cid:2)नि(cid:20)करण
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India
[भा(cid:2)रती संरक(cid:2)र / 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;
2. 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;
3. 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:-RG-17/(3)/2022-QoS-Part(2) I/29344/2024
“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.”
4. 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;
5. 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;RG-17/(3)/2022-QoS-Part(2) I/29344/2024
6. 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;
7. 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;
8. 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
9. 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
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.
(cid:14)र्ल्ड(cid:23)(cid:24) ट्रे(cid:26)(cid:23) सं(cid:27)टर, ट(cid:2)(cid:14)र-एफ, (cid:16)(cid:31)र जी(cid:5) (cid:16)गर, (cid:16)ई दिदूर्ल्डली(cid:5)-110029
World Trade Centre, Tower-F, Nauroji Nagar New Delhi – 110029RG-17/(3)/2022-QoS-Part(2) I/29344/2024
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.
3. Guidelines to create coverage maps
3.1. The service provider shall display the network coverage maps based on actual measurement
(physical or through network analytics) or using industry standard prediction methodology.
3.2. In case the network coverage maps are prepared using prediction tool(s), service provider
shall make sample verification against the actual signal strength and apply suitable scaling
or correction factor so that the coverage maps display network coverage close to actual user
experience as far as possible.
3.3. The cell coverage of respective technology (2G/ 3G/ 4G/ 5G) shall be presented on the
coverage map in prescribed colour scheme having minimum prescribed signal strength
(measured in outdoor), as detailed below, at the cell edges considering 50% loading of the
cell:
S. No. Technology Threshold level of signal strength at 50% cell loading
1 2G RSSI ≥ - 95 dBm
2 3G RSCP ≥ - 99 dBm
3 4G RSRP ≥ - 110 dBm
4 5G RSRP ≥ - 110 dBm
Note:RG-17/(3)/2022-QoS-Part(2) I/29344/2024
(i) RSSI stands for Received Signal Strength Indicator
(ii) RSCP stands for Received Signal Code Power
(iii)RSRP stands for Reference Signals Received Power
3.4. Any area having signal strength below the above-mentioned threshold level at 50% cell
loading may be considered as no coverage area for the respective technology.
3.5. The guidelines provide technology wise minimum signal strength to be used for showing
outer boundaries of network coverage. However, the service providers may use better signal
strength reference (than the minimum prescribed one against respective technology) for
display of network coverage to factor effect of radio propagation, terrain and environmental
conditions, if any.
4. Guidelines for display of coverage map on service provider website
4.1. Coverage map of each technology will be displayed in different colour as mentioned below:
4.2. To enable better colour contrast, it may be ensured that background map or base layer used
to display coverage map does not include above colours.
4.3. By default, unified coverage map, covering all available technologies in the areas, will be
displayed.
4.4. Opacity of coverage map is to be kept at 80% at default level. However, to provide visibility
of background map layer details like landmarks, road, streets etc.to the consumers, opacity
may vary gradually up to minimum level of 30% with increase in zoom level.
4.5. To display the coverage in areas served with multiple technologies, the preference will be
given to higher generation technology in unified coverage map. For example, if in any area,
coverage (better than prescribed threshold limit) of all technologies i.e. 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G
is available, then in unified coverage map, the area will be shown as covered with 5G.
4.6. While displaying the coverage map, the display of cell or base station location is optional.
5. Periodic updating of coverage map
5.1. To provide up to date status of mobile coverage to the consumers, coverage maps should be
updated by the service providers at the earliest upon the cell being either commissioned or
decommissioned or coverage is changed significantly due to any other reason in the
Licensed or Authorized Service Area (LSA) network.
5.2. All the changes in network coverage, due to any action in month ‘x’, shall be reflected in
coverage map as early as feasible but not later than 'x+3’ months. For example, the change
in network coverage for any technology resulting due to any activity, including cell
commissioning, decommissioning, network optimization etc., in the month of March of the
year should be reflected in the coverage maps as early as feasible and not later than by the
end of month of June of the concerned year. Accordingly, network coverage at the end ofRG-17/(3)/2022-QoS-Part(2) I/29344/2024
March is to be reported in the compliance report for the month of June, for which report is to
be submitted latest by 15th July.
5.3. The service provider is free to update the map either on monthly basis or at some other
frequency subject to meeting the above-mentioned requirement.
5.4. The log of changes made in coverage map for respective assessed month shall be maintained
for the purpose of audit.
5.5. Service provider should publish the date of the last update on respective coverage map.
6. Placement of the map on service provider website
6.1. To ensure adequate visibility and ease of access for users, the link for coverage map (with
suitable logo) should be provided on ‘Home’ or landing page of the service providers’
website at a prominent location for single click navigation.
6.2. In addition, a tab namely ‘Coverage map’, should be provided prominently in the navigation
bar of the website.
6.3. On selecting the ‘Coverage Map’, user should be navigated to the concerned page.
7. Minimum features to be provided for exploring the coverage map
7.1. The following minimal features should be made available to the users for exploring
coverage maps. However, the service providers are free to provide more information and
user-friendly features for enhancing the user experience:
(i) Map base layer: Map base layer shall have the name of street, road, highway etc.
including village district and State/UT name with boundaries.
(ii) Technology Toggle: Users can select specific technologies (2G, 3G, 4G, 5G) to view
coverage for the respective technology only. In addition, option is also to be provided
to view the unified coverage map of all the technologies. However, by default, unified
coverage map, covering all available technologies in the areas, will be displayed.
(iii) Search: User should be able to search the location by LSA/ State/ UT/ District/ City/
Village name or by entering latitude and longitude. When user enter any input, the
map should be broadly centred on the searched location.
(iv) Legend: Suitable legends should be displayed to indicate the meaning of different
colours or information displayed on the map or page including threshold signal
strength and technology etc.
(v) Navigation features:
(a) Zoom and Pan: User should be able to explore the coverage map by zooming
in, zooming out, and panning (allows users to move around to different areas of
interest).
(b) Home Tab: Clicking ‘Home’ tab directs the map to the default position and
zoom value.
(c) Map orientation: The current orientation of the map (red arrow points north)
should be displayed for direction reference.
(d) Full screen: User should be able to switch to full screen mode.
(e) My Location: On clicking ‘My Location’, the coverage map will be centred at
user location in accordance with the location of the device, if enabled or
derived by the network.
(vi) User Feedback Mechanism: User should be able to provide feedback or challenge
network coverage indicated on map or report issue observed in coverage through a
feedback button on the map. To capture specific details, the user may be asked toRG-17/(3)/2022-QoS-Part(2) I/29344/2024
provide or auto-capture the minimum required details like location, phone number
and option to upload screenshot of test undertaken with signal strength observed. The
user feedback should be taken into consideration during optimisation of the network
and coverage maps may be revised in next cycle if required. Further, the user
responses may also be shared with TRAI through APIs.
8. Provision for sharing map data with TRAI
8.1. Each service provider shall make required secure Application Programmable Interfaces
(APIs) or industry standards mechanism of GIS data exchange available to TRAI to be used
by the central platform of TRAI for the presentation of a unified geospatial service coverage
map at the pan-India level, as and when required.
9. Help
9.1. Help Section, elaborating the methodology used to prepare the coverage map, how to use
the coverage map, explanation to the terminology used, limitation etc, is to be provided. The
help section may also include some FAQs (frequently asked questions) with their reply.
10.Optional Features
10.1. Service provider can extend the availability of coverage map on their mobile apps, both for
Android or iOS devices.
10.2. User may be able to download the coverage map of the interested area in downloadable
format like pdf, jpeg etc. Similarly, there should be an option to print the coverage map.
10.3.Any other user-friendly features based on references provided in Appendix.
*****RG-17/(3)/2022-QoS-Part(2) I/29344/2024
Appendix- Indicative references
Globally, many countries have introduced geospatial mobile and fixed line service coverage
maps for the benefit of consumers. Some of such examples is given below.
(i) https://www.fcc.gov/BroadbandData/MobileMaps/mobile-map
(ii) https://broadbandmap.fcc.gov/home
(iii) https://www.telstra.com.au/coverage-networks/our-coverage
(iv) https://www.vodafone.com.au/network/coverage-checker
(v) https://www.bell.ca/Mobility/Our_network_coverage
(vi) https://www.telus.com/en/mobility/network/coverage-map
(vii) https://www.verizon.com/coverage-map/
(viii) https://www.att.com/maps/wireless-coverage.html
(ix) https://www.t-mobile.com/coverage/coverage-map