MTNL Receives Rs 6,00,000 TRAI Penalty for Quality of Service Regulation Violation
MTNL has been penalized Rs 6,00,000 by TRAI for violating Quality of Service regulations in July 2025. The penalty was imposed for failing to publish functional geospatial coverage maps on its website for wireless services in Delhi and Mumbai areas, despite reporting 100% compliance. TRAI rejected MTNL's explanations regarding server failures and found the provided website links non-functional, requiring payment within 21 days to avoid additional interest charges.
*this image is generated using AI for illustrative purposes only.
Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) has disclosed receiving a financial penalty of Rs 6,00,000 from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) for violating Quality of Service regulations. The penalty was imposed through TRAI's order dated February 04, 2026, which MTNL received on February 06, 2026.
Violation Details
The penalty stems from MTNL's failure to comply with the Standards of Quality of Service of Access (Wireline and Wireless) and Broadband (Wireline and Wireless) Service Regulations, 2024 for Access Service (Wireless) during July 2025. Specifically, MTNL failed to publish service-wise geospatial coverage maps on its website for geographical areas where wireless voice or wireless broadband services are available for consumer subscription.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Penalty Amount | Rs 6,00,000 |
| Violation Period | July 2025 |
| Service Areas Affected | Delhi and Mumbai |
| Regulation Violated | QoS Standards 2024 (06 of 2024) |
| Payment Deadline | 21 days from order date |
Performance Monitoring Report Discrepancies
TRAI's analysis revealed significant discrepancies in MTNL's Performance Monitoring Report (PMR) for July 2025. While MTNL reported 100% compliance for the parameter "Availability of service wise geospatial coverage map on service provider's website for percentage of working cells," TRAI found that the required maps were not properly published on the company's website.
Service Area-wise Penalty Breakdown
The total penalty of Rs 6,00,000 is distributed equally between MTNL's two service areas:
| Service Area | Penalty Amount | Violation |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi (DL) | Rs 3,00,000 | Non-functional geospatial coverage maps |
| Mumbai (MUM) | Rs 3,00,000 | Inadequate coverage map accessibility |
MTNL's Response and TRAI's Assessment
MTNL provided explanations for the violations, citing server failures affecting 2G map availability and providing website links for geospatial coverage maps. However, TRAI found these explanations unsatisfactory. The regulatory authority noted that the links provided by MTNL were non-functional and did not display the required information, making them inadequate for consumer use.
Regulatory Framework and Compliance Requirements
Under Regulation 15(3) of the QoS regulations, every service provider offering wireless access services must publish service-wise geospatial coverage maps on their website in the format directed by TRAI. This requirement ensures transparency for consumers regarding service availability in different geographical areas.
Financial Impact and Payment Terms
MTNL has stated that the Rs 6,00,000 penalty will not have a material impact on its financial, operational, or other activities. The company must pay the penalty within 21 days through demand draft, pay order, or electronic transfer to TRAI's designated account. Failure to pay within the stipulated timeframe will result in interest charges at 2% above the State Bank of India's one-year Marginal Cost of Lending Rate, compounded annually.
Source:
Historical Stock Returns for Mahanagar Telephone Nigam
| 1 Day | 5 Days | 1 Month | 6 Months | 1 Year | 5 Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| -1.55% | +1.27% | -14.86% | -31.31% | -44.40% | +142.65% |
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