July 31st is the deadline given to telecom operators to report back to the government after analyzing the faults in their networks that cause frequent call drops. The government also has asked to take necessary steps to optimize the radio frequencies in their networks.
Within the action that were prescribed, the Government has asked operators to install more sites, adopt in-built solutions and augment existing frequency resources to reduce call drops.
The operators in other hand demand for more time to solve the issues. “The government and our views on call drops are aligned. It’s great that they’re allowing us to install more sites, which is what we have been asking for a long time,” said Rajan Mathews, Director General of the Cellular Operators Association of India. He added that in cities the call drops issues come around 10%, but the peripheral areas experience only about 1%. This data, when averaged will come in compliance with the Government requirement.
In response to call drops, many telecom service providers have launched compensating offers. Uninor promises free minutes to every call drop to the customers. MTS, on the other hand, demanded streamlining the procedures required to install cell sites. Bharti Airtel recently reached out to customers asking them to point out locations suitable for mobile tower installations.
Meanwhile, Government has asked Telecom Regulatory Authority of India to find a system by which they can penalize operators for call drops.
Good to see “deadlines” coming for Network related issues as well.. previously it was for NMNP and other trivial matters!