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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS
RAJYA SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 298
TO BE ANSWERED ON 19TH MARCH, 2026
NETWORK PERFORMANCE IN J&K
298 SHRI SAT PAUL SHARMA:
Will the Minister of Communications be pleased to state:
(a) the number of districts and Gram Panchayats brought under 5G services in J&K during the
last year;
(b) how field-level drive tests have assessed actual download speeds and call drop rates;
(c) whether coverage gaps persist along highways, rail corridors and rural clusters;
(d) if so, the details thereof;
(e) the details of penalties or corrective directions issued to Telecom Service Providers (TSPs)
for non-compliance; and
(f) the details of further roadmap for transitioning?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN
REGION
(SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA)
(a) to (f) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
1STATEMENT TO BE LAID ON THE TABLE OF RAJYA SABHA IN RESPECT OF PARTS
(a) TO (f) OF THE RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 298 FOR 19TH MARCH,
2026 REGARDING “NETWORK PERFORMANCE IN J&K.”
(a) 5G services had been made available in all 20 districts of the Union Territory of Jammu and
Kashmir before 1.1.2025. 5G services are also available in 2,078 Gram Panchayats in the Union
Territory, out of which 5G services were made available in 186 Gram Panchayats in the last year.
(b) The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has notified regulations to provide the
benchmarks for quality of service parameters. These include the following:
(i) A call drop rate not exceeding 2%; and
(ii) A mandate for every service provider to indicate in all its tariff offerings, typical
download and upload speed generally available to consumers.
TRAI has conducted five independent drive tests (IDT) in Jammu and Kashmir Licensed
Service Area since December 2024 and related reports are available on the website of TRAI.
(c) to (f) Mobile network coverage requirements are governed by license conditions and the
minimum rollout obligation linked to spectrum assignment. Coverage beyond the minimum rollout
obligation depends on techno-commercial considerations of the Telecom Service Provider
concerned. Under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, Digital Bharat Nidhi may be utilised to
support universal service through promoting access to and delivery of telecommunication services
in underserved rural, remote and urban areas.
In Jammu and Kashmir Licensed Service Area, during the last three years, liquidated damages
for an amount of ₹9.7 crore have been imposed against Telecom Service Providers for delay in rolling
out telecom services as per minimum rollout obligation.
Out of 6,474 villages of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, 4G mobile services are
available in 6,208 villages covering approximately 96% of the total population of the Union
Territory. Further, the Department of Telecommunications has approved various mobile projects
from Digital Bharat Nidhi to provide 4G mobile connectivity in the remaining villages/locations of
the Union Territory.
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