Trai tightens quality norms around 4G and 5G networks

New Delhi: The telecom regulator has tightened quality norms around 4G and 5G networks, increased the financial penalties for not meeting benchmarks and directed telcos to compensate mobile phone users with rent rebates and validity extensions in case mobile service outages continue for more than 24 hours, in a bid to reduce instances of call drops and slow network downtime problems.

To achieve time bound action on quality of service (QoS) related issues, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) Friday increased the financial penalty to Rs 1 lakh from Rs 50,000 earlier for not meeting the benchmarks. The regulator has also introduced a graded penalty system of Rs 1 lakh, Rs 2 lakh, Rs 5 lakh and Rs 10 lakh for different scales of rule violations under revised regulations, which will come into effect from October 1.