While the spectrum auctions have concluded, cellphone users may need to wait at least six more months for improvement in network-related service issues such as call drops, a top government official said.
Asked about time it will take for consumer to benefit in the form of improved services from the recently concluded auctions, Telecom Secretary Rakesh Garg said, “I think this will take around six months to one year…It depends on the market forces as that will drive the operator to work on issues faster.”
He added, “Additionally, now spectrum can be used in liberalised fashion which will make it more efficient. They will make use of it as fast as possible, they will not wait as India is a very competitive market. We have to consider that our (telecom) traffic is also increasing. But I think in the coming six months to one year operators will make investments (in infrastructure).” Mobile phone subscribers have been complaining about rising number of frequent call drops. Operators, on their part, have cited lack of spectrum as one of the reasons for network related issues along with hurdles in installing mobile towers due to radiation issues.
Upfront paymentThe Secretary said he was hopeful that most of the winners will pay ‘significant’ amount of upfront money before the end of this financial year. The government is to receive an upfront payment of Rs.28,872 crore from the operators. While the first instalment is to be paid in 10 days, the Telecom Minister had appealed to operators to pay the same in six days instead as the financial year ends on March 31.
“Yes, there has been a response and by and large it has been positive. So I do believe many of them will deposit fairly good amount of money before the financial year end,” Mr. Garg said.