Telecom Diary: Will new regulations enhance service quality?

Will granular monthly reporting and stringent parameters for quality of service norms improve mobile services? The question may soon find an answer as the telecom regulator is close to announcing new norms for mobile services.

Despite widespread mobile connectivity, certain areas – rural and remote regions lack connectivity or have poor connectivity. Even in urban areas with good coverage, there are dark spots. Call drops remain a common issue which is why the regulator has been in the process of reviewing the norms set up in a 2G era. In its consultation paper, TRAI proposed implementation of stringent benchmarks and monitoring of the performance of service providers for mobile broadband i.e., 4G services regularly. However, the proposal was opposed by the telecom industry unanimously.