TRAI Assesses Mobile Network Quality on Manoharpur-Dausa National Highway (Rajasthan)

📌 Summary:

• TRAI released findings of an Independent Drive Test (IDT) on the Manoharpur-Dausa stretch of NH-148 in Rajasthan (62.2 km, conducted 2 May 2026) to verify real-time mobile network quality for consumers
• The IDT establishes live voice and data sessions on 2G/3G/4G/5G using all operators' SIMs to measure Quality of Service (QoS)
• Key parameters: coverage gap, Call Setup Success Rate (CSSR), Drop Call Rate, call silence instances, download/upload throughput, latency, jitter and packet drop
• Results: average download speed ~ RJIL 247 Mbps, Airtel 102.8 Mbps, VIL 35.97 Mbps, BSNL 3.99 Mbps; BSNL had the largest coverage gap and its 4G was unavailable on the highway
• Purpose: inform consumers and push Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) to improve service quality

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS2 Polity/Governance — role of statutory regulators (TRAI) in consumer protection and service-quality enforcement.

📝 Prelims Facts:

• TRAI = Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (statutory body, TRAI Act 1997)
• IDT = Independent Drive Test; LSA = Licensed Service Area
• Highway tested: NH-148, Manoharpur to Dausa, Rajasthan
• QoS metrics include CSSR, Drop Call Rate, MOS (speech quality)

🔑 Key Term: Quality of Service (QoS) — measurable telecom network-performance benchmarks (coverage, call drops, throughput) that TRAI prescribes and monitors.