TRAI to come out with recommendations on call drops by October 15

New Delhi: Sectoral regulator TRAI on September 10 said it will come out with recommendations on call drops and compensation to consumers by mid-October. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has already floated a consultation paper in the regard.

"We have sought comments from operators till September 21 and counter comments by September 28 after which there will be an open house discussion. I expect that by October 10-15, we will give the final recommendations in this regard," TRAI Chairman RS Sharma told reporters on the sidelines of an Assocham event.

The regulator on September 9 held a meeting with CEOs of telecom operators to address the problem. Sharma said after 15 days, drive tests will be conducted in Delhi and Mumbai to determine if there is any improvement in services provided by operators. If situation does not improve, the regulator "will cross the bridge" to check the problem, he added.

"After 15 days, the issue of whether they are able to improve the situation or not, we will take the call what further steps need to be taken," he said. He also said that within a couple of weeks, TRAI will come out with an information paper that will bring out the quality of service of calls, specifically in Delhi and Mumbai.

Telecom companies were warned yesterday by the government to get their act right on call drops issue or face action, while the regulator TRAI gave them 15 days' time to address the problem.