Aircel, BSNL, Vodafone not meeting QoS benchmarks in some circles

New Delhi: Aircel, BSNL and Vodafone are not meeting the quality service benchmark for call drops in some telecom circles, Parliament was informed on March 20. "As regards, the parameter worst affected cells having more than 3 per cent call drop rate, Aircel is not meeting the benchmark in 18 service areas, BSNL in 5 and Vodafone in 2 service areas," Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

‘The performance on call drop is accessed through quality of service (QoS) parameters like call drop rate/circuit switch voice drop rate for which benchmark is less than or equal to 2 per cent, said Prasad. For worst affected cells having over 3 per cent traffic channel drop during cell bouncing busy hour or any other hour of a day, the benchmark is less than or equal to 3 per cent, the Minister said.

"As per the performance monitoring report for 2G services for the quarter ending December 2014, the benchmark for parameter call drop rate is not met by Aircel in 2 service areas and BSNL in 3 service areas," said Prasad. And for 3G services, Ravi Shankar Prasad said that Aircel is not meeting the benchmark for parameter worst affected cells having more than 3 per cent call drop rate in 12 service areas and BSNL in 3 service areas. Trai has been pursuing with service providers for improving quality of service and regular interactions are being held by it with service providers.

"TRAI imposes financial disincentives on service providers for their failure to comply with the prescribed QoS benchmarks wherever the benchmarks are not met,” said Ravi Shankar Prasad