Telcos, consumer groups clash over TRAI’s 5G slicing, service quality rules

New Delhi: Telecom operators and consumer groups on Wednesday clashed on the sector regulator’s proposal to bring in rules governing 5G network slicing, coverage map accuracy, and financial disincentives on telcos upon missing service quality benchmarks.

Bharti Airtel – in its comments to the TRAI at an open house discussion on Draft Amendments in The Standards of Quality of Service of Access (Wireline and Wireless) and Broadband (Wireline and Wireless) Service Regulations, 2024 – said network slicing is a specific 5G architectural capability and regulatory intervention should only occur if a customer facing service issue actually arises, adding that the current implementation does not harm the general consumer experience.