TRAI now requires telecom providers to show network coverage maps
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) aims to improve transparency when it comes to network coverage claimed by telecom operators. In its recent guidelines announced last week, the country’s telecom watchdog has directed service providers to display the geospatial network coverage map, its availability and signal strength. This is said to enable better transparency and uniformity when it comes to providing wireless access services and help users make more informed decisions.
According to According to TRAI, telecom providers in India will be required to display the network coverage map based on actual measurements through physical or network analytics. Alternatively, they can also rely on industry standard forecasting methodology for this. If the latter is applied to create coverage maps, the service provider will have to verify a sample against the actual signal strength. This is followed by the application of the correction factor to ensure that the network coverage derived using forecasting tools is as close as possible to the actual user experience.
| S. No. | Technology | Color and code | Sample color |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2G | Violet (#5b5bb0) | |
| 2 | 3G | Green (#0c7e0c) | |
| 3 | 4G | Purple (#800080) | |
| 4 | 5G | Yellow (#dddd41) |
The telecoms watchdog directs operators to display mobile coverage of 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G networks in the prescribed color scheme, with each technology shown in the designated color and having the minimum prescribed signal strength at the outermost limits the coverage area with 50 percent load of the maximum capacity. Any area with a signal strength below the above-mentioned threshold is considered not to have a coverage area for the technology in question, according to the watchdog.
| S. No. | Technology | Signal strength threshold level at 50% cell load |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2G | RSSI ≥ -95 dBm |
| 2 | 3G | RSCP ≥ -99 dBm |
| 3 | 4G | RSRP ≥ -110 dBm |
| 4 | 5G | RSRP ≥ -110 dBm |
The map should be placed on the landing page of the telecom provider’s website for one-click navigation, the notice said. Furthermore, a devotee Coverage map is placed in the navigation bar that should lead to the corresponding page. The watchdog says that coverage maps must contain the following elements:
- Map Base Layer: Shows the name of the street, road, highway, town district and state/UT with boundaries.
- Technology Switch: Users should have the ability to view coverage of specific technologies (2G, 3G, 4G, 5G). Alternatively, they should also be able to view a uniform coverage map.
- Search: The user should be able to search the location by searching the name of the state/UT/district/city/town or by entering the latitude and longitude.
- Legend: The map should also have appropriate legends to indicate the meaning of the various colors or information displayed on the map.
Other optional features include the ability to zoom in/out, a home tab that redirects to the default position, a full screen mode, and a my location option that centers the coverage map on the location of the user device.
TRAI said telecom providers will also be required to update the coverage maps on a monthly or other frequency. This is also mandatory when the cell is put into or out of use or when there is a change in coverage due to the Licensed or Authorized Service Area (LSA) network.
