TRAI sets out graded penalty system for call drops

TRAI has set out a graded penalty system for call drops and has announced a penalty of up to Rs 1 million per circle per quarter on telecom operators who fail to meet voice quality benchmarks. Under the previous quality of service rule, the penalty on call drops was Rs 50,000 per violation. However, under the new rules effective October 1, 2017, if an operator fails to meet call the drop benchmark in two consecutive quarters, the penalty in the second quarter will be 1.5 times that levied in the first quarter, and will be doubled in case the violation continues in the third consecutive quarter.