Don't want to be known as 'call drop' minister: Prasad

The remarks came minutes after Sunil Bharti Mittal complimented the minister for taking proactive steps in resolving issues related to call drops

Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Tuesday lambasted the industry heavily on the issue of call drops.

He said, "I don't want to be known as a 'call drop' minister. Why do you need the nudging of a minister to improve your networks? You know your capability and you can do it," Prasad said while speaking at a COAI-Ericsson event here.

The remarks came minutes after Bharti Enterprises chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal complimented the minister for taking proactive steps in resolving issues related to call drops. "The industry has faced huge criticism on call drops. But our network is getting better on a daily and weekly basis and it will improve further. Our job is to overcome difficulties and we will keep doing more," Mittal said.

The minister said the government is monitoring implementation of investment commitments made by telecom operators for upgrading networks. "I regret to say very frankly it took a lot of nudging on my part for all of you (telecom industry) to publicly acknowledge that there is need for improvement," Prasad said . He also said telecom players must increase their level of engagement with customers.

Mobile phone users have been impacted by the frequent call drops over past few months. The department of telecommunications and Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has been taking regular meetings with telecom players to resolve the situation. TRAI has also imposed a compensation plan of Rs 1 for every call drop (three in a day) to a mobile user by a telco starting from January 1, 2016. Mittal also asked the government to relax the spectrum cap - which stands at 25 per cent in a circle now.

"Spectrum trading is a welcome step, but there should not be any levy on spectrum trading except administrative charges of one per cent." Also, the government should incentivise building fixed line networks.

Bharti Airtel will be investing Rs 60,000 crore in the next three years for upgrading its networks and will spend the largest capex in a year in the current financial, Mittal added. "We must make a commitment to ensure our networks work and continue to improve."

He also said payment banks must provide frugal banking in rural areas.

TRAI chairman RS Sharma said the cable TV network could be utilised to offer broadband services apart from white spaces. He also said that there has to be a multi-pronged approach to amke broadband available across the country at affordable rates.