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DoT to launch an independent QoS test for 5G

Jolted into action by increasing reports of call drops and poor audio connectivity from 5G users across circles, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) may soon launch an independent quality of service (QoS) test for 5G, officials said.

The ministry received many complaints about poor call connectivity from 5G users and the issue has been communicated to the two private telecom service providers (TSPs) currently rolling out 5G services, Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, officials told Business Standard.

The first test may be akin to the periodic drive tests conducted by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) nationwide to assess the network quality provided by TSPs for voice and data services, the officials added. While telecom operators submit performance monitoring reports to Trai regularly, the regulator also undertakes audit and assessment of service quality through independent agencies.

On Tuesday, Reliance Jio announced the largest-ever launch of its True 5G services across 50 cities in 17 states, taking its total 5G coverage to 184 cities nationwide. Rival Bharti Airtel has services live in 52 cities, a company spokesperson said.

Challenges galore
Industry executives told Business Standard they were continuously expanding 5G coverage and identifying dark spots where call drops were more frequent. “We are continuously assessing the situation. As happens for any major roll-out, it is a dynamic situation, and we are putting in new equipment,” a senior executive at a TSP said.

Meanwhile, S P Kocchar, director general of the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), said 5G connectivity should not be expected to reach its peak just four months after launch.

“The 5G spectrum has brought new technical challenges. It will usually work on small cells. The higher the frequency band, the lower the distance to which it can propagate. Therefore, the optimal distance between cells has now gone down to, say, 100 metres, as compared to 3 kms earlier,” Kocchar stressed.

Another problem was the lack of fibre backhaul at towers. The traffic that would be generated (i.e., data consumed by the people) by 5G subscribers would be much higher than earlier, and adequate backhaul has to be provided for this.

“Given the high capacities required, the only solution is to use optical fibre. Copper wires can’t carry that much data except over short distances. But at present, only 35 per cent of the telecom towers have fibre backhaul. This needs to double to support efficient network operations and quality service delivery,” Kocchar said

The COAI has said it is imperative that authorities at the state and local levels align with the new Right of Way (RoW) guidelines issued by the Centre to enable the growth of the infrastructure.

Tougher norms soon
In January, the DoT asked service providers to quickly fix overall incidences of call drops and falling network quality. Chaired by Telecom Secretary K Rajaraman, the meeting was attended by all three private TSPs, including Vodafone Idea.

The telecom operators cited factors such as poor quality of handsets, rampant use of unauthorised signal boosters and jammers, among others, that were affecting user experience.

The availability of sites at desired locations, government establishments, and public places for setting up towers, and exorbitant charges levied by certain civic bodies on infrastructure creation, which affect QoS, were also flagged by the COAI.

The government is preparing the ground for much tighter QoS norms. It intends to eliminate call drops, and poor voice and data connectivity.

The much-awaited updated norms will be announced via executive orders once Trai sends back its inputs on the matter. The regulator is expected to bat for the introduction of more QoS parameters, officials said. Business Standard

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