Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, in a written reply to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha today, said that the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) regularly monitors License Service Area (LSA) wise performance of telecom service providers (TSPs) in the country.

TRAI conducts Independent Drive Tests and Operator Assisted Drive Tests based on the issues observed in the Performance Monitoring Report submitted by TSPs to TRAI. The finding of Drive Tests are shared with the respective TSPs to take necessary remedial action to remove the deficiencies observed in the drive tests. The details are available on TRAI website.

Government has taken following steps to facilitate TSPs to expand their network coverage to meet out connectivity gaps and hence improving quality of service:

1. Uncovered villages are being provided coverage under various Digital Bharat Nidhi schemes.
2. Assignment of sufficient spectrum for mobile services through auction.
3. Spectrum sharing, trading and surrender has been permitted for efficient use of spectrum.
4. Simplification of Procedure for SACFA (Standing Advisory Committee on Radio Frequency Allocations) clearance.
5. 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.

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MI/ARJ

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