- Promises to make rural connectivity not just a target on paper, but a lived reality for millions of Indians.
In a landmark collaboration aimed at bolstering India’s digital infrastructure, the Department of Posts and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on July 10, 2026.
The agreement paves the way for a comprehensive, app-based nationwide survey to evaluate the mobile network performance of all four major Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) — Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio, Vodafone Idea, and BSNL — across more than 5.68 lakh villages spanning the length and breadth of the country.
The initiative is a significant step toward strengthening rural telecom services and advancing the vision of Digital India, a flagship programme aimed at transforming the country into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy.
Under the terms of the MoU, the two organisations will operate in a complementary fashion. The Department of Posts, with its vast and trusted postal network, will spearhead the field survey operations on the ground.
TRAI, on the other hand, will serve as the technical backbone of the project — providing the custom-built survey application, delivering training to field personnel, offering ongoing technical support, and overseeing centralised monitoring of the entire exercise.
The partnership has been established for duration of one year, during which the data collected is expected to yield critical insights into the state of mobile connectivity in rural India. The overarching goal is threefold: to enhance the quality of telecom services, to bridge persistent digital connectivity gaps, and to propel the country towards a more digitally inclusive future.
Grassroots data collection
What lends this survey its unique strength is the mechanism of data collection. The Department of Posts operates an unparalleled network of more than 1.40 lakh rural Branch Post Offices, staffed by Gramin Dak Sevaks who are deeply embedded in the communities they serve.
These frontline postal workers will carry out the survey during their routine delivery operations, ensuring that data collection is seamless, cost-effective, and organically woven into existing workflows.
At the heart of the field operations is a specially developed Android-based mobile application, designed and provided by TRAI.
Through this app, Gramin Dak Sevaks will capture real-time, field-level data on key mobile network performance indicators. The survey will cover villages across all states and Union Territories, generating a rich repository of information that can be used to identify connectivity black spots, guide infrastructure investments, and support evidence-based policymaking.
The MoU was formally signed by Manisha Bansal Badal, General Manager (Citizen Centric Services & Rural Business) at the Department of Posts, and S.M.K. Chandra, Joint Advisor (Broadband & Policy Analysis) at TRAI. The signing ceremony was attended by senior officials from both organisations, underscoring the high-level commitment behind the initiative.
