Submit report on call drop issue by Jul 31: DoT to telcos

Amid growing concerns over the call drop issue, the Department of Telecom (DoT) has asked all mobile operators to submit a report on action taken by them to address the problem by July 31.

"The issue of call drops in mobile networks has been reviewed in the Department. It was felt that there is an urgent need to address the menace of call drops," DoT said in a letter to telecom players dated July 17.

The letter said it is necessary that service providers undertake a special drive for radio frequency optimisation, analyse the reasons of call drops and take appropriate steps viz installation of more sites, adopting in-building solutions, augmenting existing radio frequency resources as the case may be.

"An action taken report may be furnished to this office by July 31," the letter said.

A report by sectoral regulator Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has said most of the telecom companies in Delhi and Mumbai are not meeting the prescribed standards on call drops.

Doing some tough-talks on call drops, Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had asked mobile operators to walk the extra mile to reinforce their systems as they have enough spectrum to provide services without interruption.

The government has also asked TRAI to suggest a disincentive mechanism to tackle the problem.

TRAI said it is evaluating the need for a consultation paper on 'Regulatory Framework on Call Drops', based on available information and facts.