**Executive Summary**
This document is the answer of the Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development to Unstarred Question No. 894 in Lok Sabha, scheduled for 4th February, 2026. The question concerns persistent issues of slow mobile data speeds and frequent call drops. The answer specifies that Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) are meeting QoS benchmarks and details steps taken to improve service quality.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Quality of Service (QoS)**
* According to the Performance Monitoring Report (Dec-25) published by TRAI, all TSPs are meeting QoS benchmarks for network-related parameters.
* **Government Actions to Improve Service Quality**
* TRAI revised Quality of Service benchmarks effective 01.10.2024, based on 02.08.2024 revisions, with performance monitored by TRAI.
* Non-compliant service providers face explanation requests and financial disincentives per existing regulations.
* Sufficient spectrum assignment for mobile services is done through auction.
* Spectrum sharing, trading, and surrender are permitted.
* The SACFA clearance procedure has been simplified.
* Telecommunications Right of Way (RoW) Rules have been notified, and the PM GatiShakti Sanchar portal launched to streamline RoW permissions.
* These steps facilitate TSPs to expand their network and improve the quality of service.
**Impact Analysis**
**Telecom Service Providers (TSPs)**
* **Impact:** TSPs must adhere to revised QoS benchmarks and provide explanations for non-compliance, which may result in financial penalties. The RoW streamlining and spectrum sharing are expected to help TSPs expand their network.
* **Action Required:** TSPs should review the revised QoS benchmarks and ensure compliance. They should also leverage the streamlined RoW process and spectrum sharing options.
**Subscribers/Citizens**
* **Impact:** Subscribers should experience improved mobile data speeds and reduced call drops due to the government's efforts to enhance service quality and the TSPs network expansion.
* **Action Required:** Subscribers should monitor their service quality and report any issues to their respective TSPs and TRAI.
Key Entities Referenced
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI): Regulator that published a Performance Monitoring Report, revised Quality of Service benchmarks, and monitors service providers.
Quality of Service (QoS): Benchmarks for network related parameters in the country, monitored by TRAI.
Department of Telecommunications: Indian government department answering questions about slow mobile data speeds and call drops.
Telecommunications Right of Way (RoW) Rules: Rules to streamline RoW permissions for telecom infrastructure installation.
Standing Advisory Committee on Radio Frequency Allocations (SACFA): Committee for which procedure of clearance is being simplified.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 894
TO BE ANSWERED ON 4TH FEBRUARY, 2026
PERSISTENT ISSUES OF SLOW MOBILE DATA SPEEDS, FREQUENT CALL DROPS
894. SHRI E T MOHAMMED BASHEER:
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has taken note of persistent issues of slow mobile data speeds,
frequent call drops and network congestion across several States, particularly in light of the country's
continued middling performance in global mobile speed rankings and recurring service outages
reported by subscribers; and
(b) if so, the concrete steps taken or proposed to improve Quality of Service (QoS), including
network capacity augmentation, spectrum utilisation and penalties imposed on telecom service
providers for non-compliance with prescribed benchmarks?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)
(a) As per Performance Monitoring Report published by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India
(TRAI) for the month of Dec-25, all Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) are meeting Quality of
Service (QoS) benchmarks for network related parameters in the country.
(b) Following steps have been taken by the government to improve quality of service –
i. TRAI has revised Quality of Service benchmarks on 02.08.2024 applicable from 01.10.2024
for various parameters, and performance of service providers against the benchmark is
regularly monitored by TRAI to ensure better quality of services. Wherever the QoS
benchmarks set by TRAI are not met by service providers, the explanation of the concerned
service provider for non-compliance is called for and after considering the response, financial
disincentives are imposed, as per existing regulation.
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.
The above steps facilitated TSPs to expand their network and to improve quality of service.
*****
1