Telcos not improving services, stern steps on call drop: Govt

Private telecom companies are increasing their customers but not improving services which are “very bad”, the government said in Rajya Sabha on Monday, asserting that it will take “stern” steps to address the menace of mobile call dropping.

Communications Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the private telecom companies have been asked to improve the infrastructure and the government is monitoring it.

After the issue was raised by Samajwadi Party’s (SP) Naresh Agrawal during the Zero Hour, Prasad said he shared the concern of the member and the Parliament over the problem. 

“I understand the concern raised by the member on the issue and Parliament’s concern. I and my government have taken this issue very seriously...I am concerned over the issue and we are rectifying it. For last two-three years, the issue was not taken seriously. I want to assure you that the effective steps taken now by me have never been taken earlier,” he said.

Prasad added: “I am a strong minister and will take more stern steps to improve the services.” He said private telecom companies are increasing their customers but not improving services which are “very bad”. He added that be it the chief of Vodafone or Airtel, both have admitted to the problems and said they will improve.

Of the 18 lakh mobile towers of private companies across the country, a survey has found 35,000 to be faulty, he said.