TRAI to decide on SC order, we expect better service: Prasad

New Delhi

“When they can expand telecom services to every nook and corner of the country, why can’t they improve the quality?”

Prasad asked soon after the court judgement. The apex court on Wednesday set aside the call-drop penalty provision put in place by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), which mandated mobile providers to compensate consumers Re 1 for every dropped call subject to a maximum of Rs 3 a day.

It called the regulation “ultra vires, arbitrary, unreasonable and non-transparent”.

Commenting on the order, Prasad said, “As far the judgement is concerned, TRAI regulation is under scrutiny. Therefore, TRAI needs to take a call. As far as government obligation is concerned, we shall continue to persuade telecom operators to provide good service.”

Invoking the social commitment card, Prasad held that consumers expect good service from mobile operators, and as a minister, it is his responsibility to keep persuading and monitoring them to ensure they fix gaps in their network.

“I would expect, I repeat, I expect operators to heed my appeal properly because if Digital India is expanding, they will have enough scope for good business,” he said.

Telecom operators argue that they face resistance to install mobile towers by resident welfare associations and local authorities and claim it to be the main reason for poor network that result in call drops. TRAI, however, has blamed the operators for investing less in infrastructure required for providing good quality of service.