Service quality is a priority for telcos in the 5G rollout, says COAI

COAI, an industry body, said operators are mindful of service quality as they roll out 5G, but added that seamless urban-rural connectivity will only be possible once these networks are available across India.

Telecom operators Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio have rolled out 5G services in hundreds of Indian cities that promise speeds far superior to 4G. Even though players are fully aware of service quality, some ground realities must be considered, says Kochhar.

Many 5G networks have been launched since October, and while service quality standards for these new-age offerings are still being developed, the government and regulator have been focusing continuously on curtailing call drops and improving consumer experiences for telecom services in general.

The telecom department back in December met operators to discuss rising instances of call drops and service quality-related issues in existing services, as it deliberated on policy measures that can be considered for improving call quality.

In February, TRAI also called a meeting with telcos to discuss measures and action plans for improving service quality, norm reviews, and benchmarks for 5G.