Telcos demand uniform tower policy to cut call drops; govt says no link between the two

Telecom operators, including Bharti Airtel, Vodafone India and Idea Cellular, on Monday sought a national policy on towers to resolve the issue of call drops.

The situation would deteriorate unless operational difficulties in installing towers were tackled, the telecom companies said in a joint press conference in the national capital.

The government, however, said telecom companies were not serious about the issue. "There is no linkage between call drops and a tower policy. There was no policy earlier, but call drops did not happen. The problem has arisen in the last seven months. They have to find a solution within the existing norms," said Rakesh Garg, secretary in the department of telecommunications.

In a meeting with telecom companies on Monday, Garg told them "no serious efforts are being made to bring about a perceptible change".

"Operators need to invest in infrastructure and optimise their networks. This is your call. You have to find a solution. We can not give you a solution," he added.

Telecom companies said about 10,000 mobile sites were shut across the country for a variety of reasons. They sought a uniform cell tower policy and wanted telecom services be declared essential services. They also wanted mobile sites be allowed in government buildings and harmonisation of spectrum.

Garg said steps had been initiated for setting towers in government buildings and the department would seek a solution for harmonisation of spectrum.

"We need a policy that can be implemented nationally, not just guidelines," Idea Cellular managing director Himanshu Kapania said during the conference.

Bharti Airtel managing director and chief executive (India and South Asia) Gopal Vittal said operators had made massive investments and the sector was not going to shy away from further investments.

The telecom sector has invested around Rs 7.50 lakh crore in the past 20 years. In spectrum auctions this March, telecom operators bid a total of Rs 1.09 lakh crore.

Governments and municipal corporations should provide permission for site installation on their buildings and supportive and affordable right of way for fibre, the companies pointed out.