As per the directive from DoT, the telecom operators have submitted their reports on the actions they adopt to reduce call drops, including adopting in-built solutions, installation of more sites and augmenting the radio frequency resources.
"Action taken reports have been received from most of the access service providers. The operators have started taking steps to curb call drops," a Department of Telecom (DoT) official told PTI.
The total number of mobile BTSs setup at mobile towers in the country, as on May 31, 2015, stood at 9,08,353. The government in 2012 had lowered the EMF exposure limit from base station or mobile tower emissions to one-tenth of then-existing. In order to ensure compliance to the prescribed norms of EMF radiation from mobile towers, audit of self-certificates being submitted by telecom service providers and BTS sites is carried out by Telecom Enforcement Resource & Monitoring (TERM) field units of Department of Telecom.
Also read: Call drops: Maximum complaints against Airtel, followed by Vodafone
In case, any BTS site is found to violate the prescribed EMF norms, actions are taken to put a penalty of Rs 10 lakh per BTS per incidence including closing of BTS site, if the violation persists. Additionally, the BTS sites against which there are public complaints are also tested by TERM Cell.
According to the sources, Bharti Airtel has added 100 2G and 100 3G sites since last one month. The company has made some capacity additions on various sites. Besides, the company has installed in-building solution in North Block while 4 sites have been added in Lutyens zone.
Vodafone added 190 new sites in Delh during the last two months. The operator Idea Cellular added 3,700 2G sites in last four months, across various locations in the country. Other operators, including RCom, SSTL, Uninor, Tata Teleservices are also taking action on the matter.
DoT will assess the submitted reports and will analyze if there is a need for any further steps. The department will also check the satisfactory levels of the actions taken by the operators. The DoT recently announced special audits across metros/capital cities to check the quality of the service offered by telecom operators.
A recent audit conducted in Delhi and Mumbai by TRAI has found that most telecom operators do not comply the prescribed standards regarding call drops. Following the audit, DoT directed the telecom operators to submit reports by July 31, 2015.
