Modi’s ire fails to reduce call drops

New Delhi: Hinting at deteriorating call quality, telecom regulator Trai on Tuesday said that mobile operators had a call drop rate of as much as 24.59 per cent for 2G services and 16.13 per cent for 3G services in the April-June quarter.

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) said the performance has deteriorated during the quarter on sequential basis with regard to worst affected mobile sites or cells having more than 3 per cent call drop rate.

In August, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed serious concern over call drops menace and directed officials to address it urgently. Trai said the worst affected call drop rate increased to 24.59 per cent during the April-June period from 12.50 per cent in January-March period for 2G services whereas for 3G services, the call drop rate increased to 16.13 per cent from 15.96 per cent in the preceding quarter.

However, the overall call drop rate remained at 1.64 per cent for the reported quarter. As per Trai parameters, the call drop rate should not be more than 2 per cent and for worst affected cells, it should not be more than 3 per cent.