Call drops are here to stay probably

Telecom operators have said they spend quite a lot on spectrum and network, and low expenditure on quality equipment is not the reason for call drops. They added that Rs. 1.34 lakh crores were invested during the 2014-2015 fiscal.

Telcos have committed Rs 110,000 crores for spectrum and spent another Rs 24,000 crores on network equipment in the 2014-15 fiscal. They have been demanding the Centre to allow government premises and access to defence and cantonment areas to deploy mobile towers to overcome call drops.

"Telecom operators invested 73% of their revenues as compared to nearly 13% global average on spectrum and networks last year and therefore it's wrong to presume that call drops happen due to low investment by telcos," Idea Cellular CEO and Managing Director Himanshu Kapania said.

"Despite world's lowest voice and data tariff in India, the telecom industry was able to made huge investments in the last 20 years and the overall sector contributes 3.5% to the country's GDP and facilitates 7.3 lakh direct jobs," Kapania added.

Industry analysts say that network congestion is one of the biggest hurdles to seamless connectivity.

Image credit: Indiatimes