New Delhi: Next time your call drops in the middle of an important office negotiation, or in an emergency or even before you say, I do, you may soon have an option to seek compensation from your mobile operator.
With the issue gaining currency, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) said that it will issue final recommendations by mid-October on compensation to be paid by mobile operators to their customers.
The telecom watchdog has already floated a draft paper on the issue of call drops and is currently reviewing the quality of services being offered by various operators.
“We have floated a paper relating to compensation and have sought comments from operators…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 R S Sharma said on the sidelines of an Assocham event.
He held a meeting with CEOs of mobile operators on Wednesday and asked them to improve services or face stringent measures against them.
Call drops have become a severe problem in recent months and concerns have been raised by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well.
The government has also warned the companies to get their act right on call drops issue or face action.
Top executives of leading operators including Bharti Airtel, Vodafone, Idea and Reliance communications were called on Wednesday by TRAI for a meeting on the issue of call drops.
Sharma asked them to show improvement in 15 days and said any further action can be taken later.
“I have told them that after 15 days we will have another test drive in the city of Mumbai and Delhi and we will also have data relating to other places. We will measure if there is any improvement in the situation or not,” he had said after the meeting.
Asked if penal measures will be taken if operators fail to show any improvement, Sharma said: “We will cross the bridge when we come to it, but I don’t have any reason to disbelieve the operators (as yet)”.
TRAI wants your views on punishing telcos
TRAI is seeking comments on how telecom operators should compensate consumers for call drops. You can do your bit by answering some questions that the body has put up and give suggestions on a MyGov.in forum.
The TRAI has said that it conducted special drive-tests on certain routes of Mumbai and Delhi and found that Call Drop Rates of most telecom service providers (or TSPs) were higher than the permissible limit. It has therefore issued a consultation paper and has solicited comments.
The TRAI has also floated the idea of telecom operators being made to compensate for call drops in talk time or monetary terms.
You can submit your suggestions on the My Gov website forum by September 21, 2015.