In another step to help users tackle with call drops and poor network quality issues, TRAI will be coming out with a paper in a couple of weeks that will empower users to check the quality of service (QoS) of mobile operators in their area. The move is aimed towards providing users with the freedom of checking the network quality before they decide to go with a particular provider. But, this move will materialise only if TRAI finds it to be feasible, as the QoS report will be provided from each of the base tower stations. At the moment, service status is provided only at the state or telecom circle level.
R.S. Sharma, Chairman, TRAI said, “We are going to establish institutional mechanism which will basically on continuous basis provide a dashboard for citizen of this country to see status of QoS in a area. We will collect data from operators. It will be put on a map and show you status of QoS in your area.” The data on the map will not be in real-time, but it would be the latest obtained.
TRAI is trying out different ways to help and compensate users who have suffered from call drop issues. Recently, it has floated a consultation paper, asking for public view regarding a proposal on whether network providers should compensate users for call drops and poor QoS. According to the proposal, any call which gets dropped within the first 5 seconds will not be charged, and for drops after 5 seconds, the last pulse of call should not be included while charging the call. One can submit comments on the proposal till September 28. Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has also said that it is not appreciable for telcos to only add customers and not care about their convenience.
Earlier, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) had blamed network providers for not optimizing and investing enough in the telecom infrastructure. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi had raised concerns over the call drop issue, and asked TRAI to address the same. With multiple steps being taken by both TRAI and DoT, consumers may expect a resolution to pitiable call quality soon.