Telcos fail third call drop test

Except Airtel 2G and Vodafone 2G, all operators failed to contain the call drop rate within 2%

Telecom operators have failed a call drop test conducted by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) for a third time.

Conducted in Bhopal from May 3 to 5 over 340 km, it found that except Airtel 2G (second-generation services) and Vodafone 2G, all operators failed to contain the call drop rate within two per cent. Also, all 2G, 3G and CDMA operators failed to meet the voice quality benchmark.

Earlier this month, Trai issued the results of test drives conducted in Delhi and Hyderabad, with similar results. In Delhi, only Reliance Communications (RCom) in 2G services and Vodafone in 3G were able to meet the two per cent call drop benchmark. In Hyderabad, only Vodafone 2G and Telenor 2G did so.

The companies face increasing pressure from the regulator to keep call drops in check. Trai has been pushing for more powers, including for imposing a fine of up to Rs 10 crore on operators and a jail term of up to two years for executives of erring companies.

Last week, after a meeting with J S Deepak, secretary, department of telecom, the operators promised to investing about Rs 12,000 crore to install about 60,000 towers to check call drops over the next three months.