Trai Releases Network Congestion Report Of Mobile

[abhay 0]

In a multi operator environment a subscriber is entitled to expect the same efficiency while making a call irrespective of the network from which the call originate and terminate. This requires an efficient interconnect between the operators.

The prerequisite for an efficient interconnects is availability of adequate number of junctions between the operators. With the exponential increase in the number of subscribers in last two years and the number of operators in each service area, the issue of efficient and adequate interconnection between operators has become very important. TRAI has been monitoring the provision of interconnection between various operators.

Considering its effect on Quality of service, TRAI specified a separate parameter i.e. “Congestion at POI” in its QoS Regulation issued in July 2005. The operators are required to submit the data regarding this parameter on monthly basis. Even before specifying this parameter in the QoS regulation, TRAI was monitoring this parameter since last one year.

The result of the monitoring reveal that in a number of areas, the degree of congestion between the operators is alarming. A major cause of concern is that the congestion is largely between the private operators and BSNL. In the last one year, TRAI had discussed this issue with all CMSP’s including BSNL, but the situation has shown no perceivable improvement.

The benchmark for the inter network congestion level for an acceptable Quality of Service is less than 0.5 per cent.

In a number of major and minor cities, the level of congestion between the networks of private operators and the BSNL network is far more than this benchmark and the number of such places is increasing.

In the month of January 2005, there were about 24 places having congestion level more than 10 per cent i.e. twenty times worse than the benchmark. In July 2005, the number of such places has increased to 86.

In Patna, the congestion level of Bharti and Reliance with Level I Tax is 35.4 per cent and 61.5 per cent respectively. In Agra, the congestion level of major private operator viz. Bharti, Idea and Reliance with BSNL TAX is 56.9 per cent, 48.3 per cent and 30.2 per cent respectively. Similarly, in Lucknow, the congestion level of Bharti, Reliance and Hutch with BSNL Tax is 71.8 per cent 54.2 per cent and 19 per cent respectively.

In case of BSNL, in a number of service areas, there is congestion in its radio network. Against the benchmark of < 2 per cent for the TCH Congestion, the figures for the service areas of Orissa, Haryana, UP-W, Bihar and Rajasthan are 15.3 per cent, 15.1 per cent, 14.0 per cent, 12.1 per cent and 11.0 per cent respectively.

[city02 63]

by slowing capacity addition, BSNL not only saves on the interest cost of its capex but also uses it as a competitive advantage to encourage sales of its own connections...

other countries have laws against such anti-consumer / monopolistic practices for incumbents

[Utsav 0]

Is there any steps being taken from the administrative end?