TRAI's Quality Norms For Better Data Services

In an effort to address the growing consumer concern on service quality and to protect their interests, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released draft regulations on Standards of Quality of Service for Mobile Data Services Regulations, 2012.

The regulatory body has set minimum quality parameters to ensure that the operators keep a strong check on quality while rolling out 3G and 4G technologies aggressively.

At present, there are no quality of service standards specified for mobile data services. As the trend of consumers accessing the Internet through smartphones is gaining momentum, the regulatory body feels it is important to specify quality parameters.

"It is necessary to benchmark and monitor the quality of service offered by the service providers of mobile data services with various options open to the implementing agencies so that the interests of consumers are protected," says the press statement from TRAI.

With these new guidelines, the regulatory body has tried to address several critical issues faced by consumers. The nine key parameters include latency, service activation [within 3 hours] and call-drop rate [which should not be more than 2 percent]. Latency is the amount taken by a packet to reach the receiving endpoint after being transmitted from the sending point. Service operators also need to inform TRAI of the minimum download speed.

{Table 1}

While the draft guidelines are certainly commendable and were much required, it is extremely important that these get implemented on time as well. TRAI, though, has reserved the right to issue a uniform methodology for keeping records for the telcos. It also needs to ensure that service providers are not fudging details.

The guidelines would be beneficial for service operators who want to differentiate themselves on the basis of their quality of service.

TRAI seeks written comments on the draft regulations from the stakeholders by July 25, 2012 and counter comments by August 1, 2012.

Jatinder Singh, Principal Correspondent, Light Reading India