Posts Dept, TRAI Launch Survey Across 5.68 Lakh Villages
The Department of Posts and TRAI will survey mobile network quality across 5.68 lakh villages to strengthen rural digital connectivity.
New Delhi, July 10 (IANS) The Department of Posts and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Friday 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 as part of an initiative to improve rural telecom services and strengthen Digital India.
Under the MoU, the Department of Posts will carry out field survey operations through its nationwide postal network, while the TRAI will provide the survey application, technical support, training and centralised 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.
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 during their routine delivery operations using a specially developed Android-based mobile application developed by the 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.
