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Telecom operators and the TRAI are at loggerheads over giving compensation for call drops.
While the telecom regulator had wanted the compensation rule to be implemented from January 1, operators are waiting to get a clear order from the Delhi High Court. Consumers meanwhile are neither getting any compensation nor seeing a dip in the number of call drops.
TRAI had earlier said that mobile phone users be paid a compensation of Re 1 for every call dropped, up to a maximum of three calls a day, from January 1 onwards. But the operators challenged this order in the Delhi High Court. The court will hear the case again on January 6, but has not stayed the TRAI order.
“We have received a notice from the TRAI asking us to implement the compensation order but we will wait for the court decision,” said a Mumbai-based operator.
The operators may not be taking the TRAI order seriously for now because the High Court asked the regulator not to take any coercive action against operators till the next hearing. Operators are worried because if they implement the TRAI order they may have to cough up nearly ₹150 crore a day. Telecom companies, including Airtel and Vodafone, have announced fresh investments to upgrade their network. The Centre has also eased policy for site clearance for setting up mobile towers including permission to install on government buildings. However, telecom companies say that all of this will take time to start impacting the quality of service.
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