The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has directed telecom operators to submit their network data based on the new call drop parameters. Under new rules, telcos may face a penalty of up to Rs 10 lakh for call drops. Trai's new rules measures call drops at a mobile tower level, instead of the previous telecom circle level measuring.
Trai has recently issued a new format to telecom operators to report the call drops data every quarter based on the all-new Quality of Service (QoS) formula. For the unaware, Trai issued these new call norms back in September 2017 and said that they would be effective from October 1, 2017.
The current call drop measuring method involves averaging the performance of the network over the entire services area, and the results were aggregated every month and rates which operator has more calls drops. However, the average call drops methodology is flawed as it's hiding the poor performing cells, which forced Trai to come up with new call drop norms.
That said, telcos should now report call drops based on new methodologies. In the earlier methodology, telcos used to send reports on a monthly basis, but under new parameters, operators need to report on a quarterly basis.
TRAI has directed "the Unified Access Service Providers and Cellular Mobile Service Providers, including Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd to submit their compliance reports, within a period of 21 days of the end of each quarter ending on March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 of the year...on quarterly basis, in respect of parameters of cellular mobile...service", according to the regulator's website.
Furthermore, Trai also asked telecom operators to fill up the information related to performance based on new rules on the regulator's website.
Right after Trai issuing new call drop norms, the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), which represents top telecom operators such as Airtel, Vodafone, Idea Cellular, etc. requested the regulator to make the new call norms live after six months.
“We have requested Trai to extend new norms for two-quarters. This will, however, help us to understand the norms better while running trials,” COAI director general Rajan S Mathews said back then.
However, Trai is not considering COAI's request and the operators have to now follow the Trai's new rules on call drops.
