Nearly 79% of smartphone users face call drops or connectivity issues while traveling on Indian highways, as per a report by CyberMedia Research (CMR). The survey, covering 2,000 users in New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata aged 18–35, revealed that these disruptions affect professionals financially and emotionally. CMR’s VP of Industry Research Group, Prabhu Ram, highlighted the persistent challenge of maintaining connectivity in various environments like highways, metros, and low-signal zones.
Many business users reported losing sales opportunities or client deals due to call drops, with 64% mentioning such incidents. Additionally, two-thirds of respondents believed they lost clients due to signal performance issues. The emotional impact of call drops was evident, with 83% feeling anxious or helpless during important conversations disrupted by connectivity issues.
Respondents often had to redial customers after dropped calls, affecting their professional image, as reported by 71% of participants. Smartphone design, especially those with triple-signal chipset technology like the POVA Series, played a crucial role in improving connectivity for frequent highway travelers. 81% noted enhanced signal experiences after switching to such devices, with 74% reporting more reliable calls and 72% experiencing faster signal recovery in weak-coverage areas.
CMR’s previous report highlighted a 2% decline in India’s smartphone market performance in Q1 2026, attributed to increased DRAM and NAND flash prices. This rise in memory costs led to higher device prices, causing price-sensitive consumers to delay upgrades.
