'TRAI has taken steps to fix call drops, but better infra needed'

In a bid to ease the irritation caused by call drops to cellphone users, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has come up with novel measures that not only look at reducing the ‘menace’, but also spread awareness about the need for better infrastructure to help improve the overall communication experience.

Addressing members of the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) at an interactive session here, TRAI Advisor and Regional Head (Karnataka, Kerala, Maharasthra and Goa) Sibichen K Mathew said, “As a first step, we have carried out an intensive and surprise independent audit of the networks of all telecom companies in several cities in India, where we found that call drops are happening in respect of most of the telecom companies, much above the allowable benchmark fixed by us. Telcos have been thereby asked to find blind spots and take immediate corrective action.”

Call drops, among other things, is attributed to two issues namely, the booming mobile subscriber base, and the corresponding dearth of suitable infrastructure. It must be noted that the number of mobile subscribers has increased to more than 100 crore people, from about 58 crore, five years ago. While the number of people using smartphones has also grown, the usage of the same is largely for value-added services and Internet, than calls.

“TRAI has asked telcos to immediately expand infrastructure in proportion to their subscription base and the area of operation, so that call drops may not happen,” Mathew said.

There are several fears about telecom towers among the public, regarding the rediation emitted by them. Explaining TRAI’s findings in order to ward off these apprehensions, Mathew informed, “The electromagnetic radiation (EMF) from mobile towers are non-ionising and don’t carry enough energy per quantum to ionise causing any harm to the human health... Various international agencies like the WHO have stated that there is no convincing evidence linking EMF exposures with health effects in adults and children.”

“Various courts have ruled that there is no evidence indictaing harmful radiations, and the public should not have any apprehension on this,” he claimed.