Related Post
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has recently implemented new quality of service (QoS) norms that introduce stricter provisions for telecom operators. However, the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) highlighted that these changes have not adequately addressed the persistent challenges faced by telecom providers, such as infrastructure rollout and illegal transmitters.
Under the newly established regulations, telecom operators are now required to compensate subscribers for service outages exceeding 24 hours at a district level. Additionally, Trai has increased the penalty for failing to meet quality benchmarks from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh. A tiered penalty system has also been introduced, imposing fines ranging from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 10 lakh based on the severity of rule violations or submission of false reports, as outlined in the revised “Standards of Quality of Service of Access (Wirelines and Wireless) and Broadband (Wireline and Wireless) Service Regulations, 2024.”
S.P. Kochhar, the Director General of COAI, which represents major telecom players like Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea, and BSNL, expressed concern that the new regulations would escalate compliance costs for service providers without delivering equivalent benefits to consumers. He noted that while Trai has tightened the QoS benchmarks over the years, the underlying challenges remain unchanged. Telecom service providers (TSPs) continue to struggle with Right of Way (RoW) issues, which hinder their ability to secure permissions for infrastructure deployment on both public and private land necessary for installing cell towers and fiber-optic cables. The situation is further complicated by the additional requirements for street furniture to support 5G networks.
Kochhar also pointed out that signal quality and network performance are often compromised by interference from various sources, including other wireless devices and electromagnetic interference. The use of illegal boosters and repeaters by unauthorized agents, along with equipment theft, also negatively impacts QoS. Additionally, frequent disruptions caused by authorities taking down overhead fiber infrastructure significantly affect quality of service.
“TSPs have limited control over these external factors that adversely affect service quality,” Kochhar stated. He emphasized that the industry is committed to adopting advanced technologies and automation tools, including predictive maintenance and AI-driven analytics, to proactively tackle network issues. Major initiatives are underway to enhance tower infrastructure across India, a crucial step for the successful deployment of 5G services.
Despite the ongoing challenges in network rollout and maintenance, telecom operators have consistently met Trai’s QoS benchmarks. The new regulations mandate more stringent monitoring at the tower level and require telecom operators to report various parameters monthly, rather than quarterly as was previously the case.
Kochhar expressed the industry’s concerns regarding the proposed regulations, which not only tighten benchmarks but also shift reporting from quarterly to monthly and from site-level to cell-level in many instances. “The QoS parameters stipulated in the new regulations have not been seen in other regulatory frameworks in similar economies. These changes are expected to significantly increase the compliance burden and costs for telecom operators, without delivering proportional benefits to consumers,” he remarked.
COAI has conveyed its disappointment with the rigor of the new regulations, stating, “We remain committed to engaging constructively with Trai on QoS-related matters. Our member organizations will continue to strive for excellence in service quality while advocating for regulations that acknowledge the practical challenges faced by our industry.”
Kochhar concluded by noting that service providers have consistently invested in enhancing service quality through substantial improvements to network infrastructure, resulting in greater reliability and stability. Trai has granted telecom operators a six-month period to adjust their systems and capacities in accordance with the new rules.
