Telcos get independent performance audits done for an accurate picture of network efficiency and service quality. This data is carefully hidden, aimed as the audits are at improving profitability. But one such report—by Phimetrics, a global telecom audit firm that has been conducting such audits for Indian telcos for six years—was shared with TRAI. It was also shared with the prime minister’s office, the reason for Modi cracking the whip. The report, accessed by
Outlook, says: “All operators have shown an approximate 50 per cent increase in their call-drop rate compared to the past year.” It blames non-optimal spectrum use, estimating that spectrum congestion and tower shortage account for only a third (some 33 per cent) of the problem.
Spectrum congestion occurs when available bandwidth gets divided between more than the number of users it is meant to handle. Calls break, data transmission slows. But the Phimetrics report says “more than 36 per cent of call-drops occur in good coverage areas.... More than 30 per cent unsuccessful call attempts occur during off-peak hours.... More than 40 per cent of calls-received errors occur post midnight...” Clearly, spectrum congestion is not to blame.
Calling The Lie | Meetu Jain | Oct 12,2015