PM Narendra Modi too faces problem of call drops, wants telecom department to find tech solution

NEW DELHI: It's not just you and me who are frustrated by call drops. Even PM Narendra Modi has not been spared. Sharing how he too faces the challenge of completing calls while travelling from the Delhi airport to his official residence, the PM directed the telecom department to find technology solutions to the problem and ensure mobile operators provide a high level of consumer satisfaction.


The PM's remark came during his monthly web-based interaction with top secretaries under the PRAGATI initiative after telecom secretary Aruna Sundarajan shared details of complaints that the department receives from consumers, which included call drops. An official said Modi cited how people are often seen trying repeatedly to make calls as soon as they touch down at the Delhi airport and how call drops are now a nationwide menace. “The PM said there is an urgent need to find a solution to the problem faced by aggrieved consumers,” an official said.


Sources said Modi also asked the telecom secretary how much fine or penalties have been collected from telecom operators for call drops. Sundarajan reportedly shared that the proposed norm of charging Re 1 for every three call drops did not take off and telecom regulator TRAI had brought Quality of Service (QoS) norms, which has provision for higher penalties for deficiency in services such as poor network. The secretary also said mobile operators are up in arms against this stringent norm. As far as penalties collected from mobile operators for their poor services was concerned, the ministry could not give any details.

“The PM said that resolution of issues related to the telecom sector should be based on latest technological solutions. He emphasised that service providers must provide a high level of consumer satisfaction,” an official statement issued by the PMO said.

Officials also said the PM has asked the telecom department to find solutions to mobile phone network-related issues in border areas to avoid enemies using this to execute their anti-India agenda. While the telecom department said this is the situation across the globe, Modi suggested there was a need to find a way out considering the peculiar situation India faces and keeping in mind the long-term utility of such a technological solution.